What Landmarks???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #468

I want to start with some pictures of truth from Jeremiah the prophet of God.  I love that book, and while it is hard to read sometimes, it is chock full of God’s principles for living, as well as the cost to follow God in a hostile environment!  Lessons that we need to be prepared to face any uncertain future!.

“Wherefore I will yet plead with you,

saith the LORD,

and with your children’s children will I plead.

10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see;

and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently,

and see if there be such a thing.

11 Hath a nation changed their gods,

which are yet no gods?

but my people have changed their glory

for that which doth not profit.

12 Be astonished,

O ye heavens, at this,

and be horribly afraid,

be ye very desolate,

saith the LORD.

13 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 2:9-13

For those of us who never lived where they use cisterns, this may be a bit foreign to us, but it is such an amazing picture.  I remember years ago, visiting a family member who lived out in the Kentucky farmland, and they had a cistern, well, I have never experienced this situation, and so one morning I was hand-washing a new white blouse in the lavatory and set it to soak a few minutes and then went back to turn on the water and finish washing it, when all of a sudden this awful black stuff came out of the faucet and I couldn’t get my blouse out quickly enough, and it was stained beyond recovery.  I went to ask what was going on, and they explained that the cistern must have gone dry, and they’d have to order water to fill it!  Well, needless to say, I learned a lesson about cisterns whether I wanted to or not.  An empty cistern is of little to no use, and if it goes dry or is broken there is no water.  God accusses His people, Israel, of forsaking a fountain of water (like our artesian wells) and not only digging cisterns for water but created broken cisterns that wouldn’t hold water (like our old adage, “that won’t hold water”!).  God is our fountain of life—not only life-giving water, but the water of life, eternal life; life in Jesus, not only the giver of water, but the One who is the water of life!

“Jesus answered and said unto her,

Whosoever drinketh of this water

shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water

that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water that I shall give him

shall be in him a well of water

springing up into everlasting life.”  John 4:13-14

Let’s consider two passages from the book of The Revelation, which remind us of the water that we need, and Jesus’ own proclamation of where to get it—In HIM!

“And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold, I make all things new.

And he said unto me,

Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me,

It is done.

I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end.

I will give unto him that is athirst

of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh

shall inherit all things;

and I will be his God,

and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:5-7

And repeated again in chapter 22.

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life,

clear as crystal,

proceeding out of the throne of God

and of the Lamb…

…16 I Jesus have sent mine angel

to testify unto you these things

in the churches.

I am the root and the offspring of David,

and the bright and morning star.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say,

Come.

And let him that heareth

say, Come.

And let him that is athirst

come.

And whosoever will,

let him take the water of life freely.”                 Revelation 22:1, 16-17

What does this have to do with ‘landmarks?  Well, landmarks in the scripture could be one of two things, it could refer to boundaries, or it very often referred to the reminders that Israel erected as landmarks on their journey to Canaan, such as the stones they set up at Jordan, as well as various altars that they set up to note a time with God.  What landmarks are you erecting or tearing down.  Have we forgotten not only the promises of God, but perhaps the promises that we have made to God?  We are often a forgetful people, just like Israel; so I’d like to close with a passage from the Psalms that gives us God’s perspective of the fickleness of we people; even God’s own people, often become forgetful!  How about you and me?  Have we forgotten the landmarks?  Have we forgotten our God?  Forgotten His promises?  Forgotten our promises to Jesus?  Let’s resolve to not forget the landmarks of our God; spend some time today rehearsing His goodness, His provision (on so many levels!), His forgiveness in our failures, His encouragement in our successes (that came because of HIS faithfulness!), the truths of HIS Word that supply our every answer and need! Set it as your constant landmark—don’t exchange His glory for the world’s lies!

“They made a calf in Horeb,

and worshipped the molten image.

20 Thus they changed their glory

into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

21 They forgat God their saviour,

which had done great things in Egypt;

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham,

and terrible things by the Red sea.

23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them,

had not Moses his chosen stood before him

in the breach,

to turn away his wrath,

lest he should destroy them.

24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land,

they believed not his word:

25 But murmured in their tents,

and hearkened not

 unto the voice of the LORD.”  Psalm 106:19-25

And in closing, Paul’s reminder of where our focus needs to be.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timohty 2:15

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timohty 3:16-17

Keep God’s Word as your landmark and you’ll find faithfulness and service in your walk each day.

Amen and Amen!!!