Sirens, Cisterns, and Superior Satisfaction

Psalm 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you, and on earth there is nothing that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail but you are the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

How easy it is for our hearts to desire something other than the Lord. Calvin rightly said that our hearts are perpetual idol factories. When we begin to long for something more than God we are entering very dangerous territory. When the affections of our hearts long after another more than after God we have made an idol.

There remains a contrast to our idolatry prone hearts:

I believe the psalmist when he said, "on earth there is nothing that I desire besides you." I believe it is possible to have the affections of your heart laser focused upon God and Him alone. (I'm not saying that I'm doing this, but rather that I want to do this.)

When is the last time you evaluated your life and considered, "What is it that I desire that either competes with my desires for God or comes close to doing so?" (I'm asking myself this question too.)

There are an overabundance of siren songs luring us into deep danger. There are songs which are less subtle than others. There are also siren songs which are so entirely subtle that we can hardly even notice them. It seems to me that these are the ones which will claim the most victims.

These subtle songs lure their victim's into ineffectiveness, complacency, apathy, misguided contentment, and ultimately to a life lived in service of self. Siren songs such as these steal our time. They will convince you to lay down your cross because it is simply too heavy. All this in efforts to undo Jesus' instruction to take up your cross and follow Him. Almost in a perfect parallel to the deceit which took place in Eden, "Did He really say that? Is that really necessary?"

When your heart, or the sirens, are telling you something is to be desired more than He is, danger is near. This is a significant warning flag waving like crazy in the wind of your heart. Do not fall for these siren songs...

They are only illusions, only broken cisterns.

Rather combat these adulterous desires with the most powerful weapon against them: the most satisfying pleasure - God, whom the Scriptures refer to as the Fountain of Living Waters. Life is war and the battle is for the affections of your heart (and mine).

A favorite portion of Scripture

Jeremiah 2:11-13

Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

In this great passage of Scripture, the Lord speaks through the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord uses other pagan nations as an example when He says, "Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods?" Even the pagan nations did not commit adultery on their non-gods. Then the Lord shows the adulterous heart of His people, "But my people have changed their glory (He is their glory) for that which does not profit." This statement displays the treasonous transaction that takes place when God's people choose something else over and above Him.

The Lord specifies the abominations of His people when He says, "my people (remember these are God's people) have committed two evils:
(1) "they have forsaken me, the Fountain of Living Waters" Here the Lord compares Himself to a Fountain of waters that are alive and give life. He said His people have turned away from Him, all-satisfying though He may be.

"and (2) hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." God's people attempted to make for themselves sources of sustaining water. But the cisterns (water containers) that His people have made are broken, they cannot hold any water. The idea is that many try to fill their bottomless void of desire to be happy, to be satisfied. The problem is that no matter what you put in your bottomless heart, nothing can truly fill it. These broken cisterns cannot satisfy.

What are you trying to fulfill your life with?
Are you trying to slake your thirst with broken cisterns or are you gloriously satisfied by drinking deeply from the Fountain of Living Waters?

Dazed & Confused

Today while at work I was speaking with an officer that I encounter on a fairly regular basis. This officer was showing off his video ipod type gadget. He showed me his family photos and then a brief part of a video of a popular pastor of a very large church with televised services. In vain I attempted to restrain my discontent with this famous tele-preacher. The officer questioned my disdain. I paused, doubting that he was legitimately seeking information, due to his unusual combination of excessive worldliness and verbal Christianity.

The officer then asked well who do you like? Again, I declined an answer for the same reason, pondering an appropriate reply. A few moments later this officer attempted to show me some pornographic video on his new-fangled gadget. I declined his offer and thought to myself this is a perfect example of why I do not approve of nor listen to this highly popular tele-personality who carries a Bible.

Because of the twice-fatal disease of sin, with which I am affected, I am in need of much stronger medicine than that which he prescribes. I need the nourishment of healthy meals not a candy-coated haze of nothingness.

I would like an opportunity to discuss further with this officer, however, it seems that this was a case of sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. I do anticipate further discussion with him.

How unfortunate that so many choose to nibble at the ever so dainty appetizers, and forsake the lavish and abundantly satisfying feasts at the table of God's Word.

Oh the travesty that so very many miss out on enjoying the value of the treasure hidden in the field. Truly it is a hidden treasure. May I/we endeavor to bring our acquaintances to see this great and priceless treasure for who He is.

Bread crumbs or the Bread of Life.
Dainty morsels or something that satisfies.
Broken cisterns or the Fountain of Living Waters.