“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” – Jeremiah 2:13

I can think of two reasons for a modern householder to call a plumber.

One reason is the event of an obstruction that blocks the flow of water. In that case, the plumber is the expert doctor of pipes who diagnoses the cause and effects a cure. When he or she leaves, the water is flowing, and everyone is happy.

Their thirst is quenched, and they can bathe.

The other reason is a leak. The water flows, but it spills everywhere. It is available, but it is quickly and easily lost.

The flow of living water can get clogged up by the obstruction of our sin, willfulness, coldness, and indifference. That requires a decision from the householder and an intervention by God. We must become thirsty and dissatisfied enough to call upon God. God is always ready to come.

But sometimes we call the wrong doctor of fountains and that plumber of souls has no plumb line at all. He purports to be what he is not, a purveyor of hope, of peace, of joy, and of significance.

The fountain we acquire is leaky, flawed from its inception, and full of spiritual, moral, and practical holes.

We get no water and we remain thirsty.

We were looking for a spiritual bargain or a cheap thrill. We fell for a lie. We bought the branding or packaging. We got a faulty fountain.

It is strange, because we knew the true source of living water the same way the people of Jeremiah’s day did. We knew that only God could satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts, but we sought something novel and new.

Disappointment and disaster followed.

Our false fountains sprung leaks.

We need that water badly. It will not come by us forsaking God and hewing out our own cisterns. We need to return to the One who is authentic and true, the One who loves us, the One who longs for our return.