Finding satisfaction in Christ alone.
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” – Jeremiah 2:13
In the book of Jeremiah, we find a prophet who is called to warn Israel about their coming judgment and present a hope for the future. In Jeremiah 2, God makes reference to the sins of his people, describing them as ones who create cisterns that are broken.
Cisterns, at that time, were reservoirs that were dug into the ground to collect water. This was an important lifeline for the Israelites. But in the book of Jeremiah, the people are described as attempting to create this life-giving resource, but in the end, the cisterns they’re building are broken and cannot hold water. What should we make of this metaphorical picture God is painting?
Mark Cavendish, a famous British sprinter in professional cycling, won a staggering 30 stages in the Tour de France from 2008 to 2016. But in 2017, he was diagnosed with a chronic fatigue virus and told by his medical doctors that the only treatment was extreme rest. However, throughout his recovery, he struggled to find peace in rest.
Cavendish continued to race, but could no longer perform at the level he once did. Eventually he fell into a deep clinical depression. It would take many years before he would recover to race at a professional level. But he did — eventually matching Belgian Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34 Tour De France stage wins in 2021.
Despite these remarkable achievements, Cavendish reversed his decision to retire last year — continuing to seek out additional wins. All he had achieved simply wasn’t enough.
Since the beginning, human beings have looked for ways to sustain and amplify ourselves, building our identities around our professional successes — never seeking to slow down, but always wanting more. More success, more attraction, and more attention.
No matter how much we obtain, we are never truly satisfied by any of the accolades the world has to offer. Like a leaky cistern, we are never filled up.
In reading the scriptures, we learn that ultimately, God himself is the constant presence who fulfills our deepest longings. In John 4:14 we read this message from Christ, “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Throughout the Bible, God calls his people to put away our worldly pursuits and find fullness of satisfaction, joy and rest in him. Yet, too often, we struggle with this idea — instead, turning back to what the world has to offer with the hopes that this time, we’ll be made complete.
What would it take for us to be satisfied in Christ alone? One way we can pursue this ultimate satisfaction is by observing a Sabbath. Sabbath rest is when we put aside our work and dedicate the day to the Lord (Exodus 20:9-10).
Traditionally for the Christian, this is observed on Sunday with the start of the week and attending a church service. However, you can observe Sabbath rest on any day by simply preparing in advance to set aside time where your work will cease and you will turn your attention to God.
Perhaps you can read a chapter in the Bible you’ve always been interested in but never found time to study. You could go for a long walk and pray to God thanking him for his provisions. There are many things you can do, but keep in mind that the point of Sabbath rest is not to fill your day with activities, but instead rest in the joy of who God is. How is God calling you to rest today?
Dominique McKay is a Ministry Associate in Washington, D.C.
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