Thank God for the fountain of life
By Dean Collins
In recent years, it seems like there is an increasing number of fountains that you can purchase for your home. I did a quick Google search and found a cheap and slightly attractive fountain for $16.97. I also found that for somewhere between $1,000 and $15,000 you can have a variety of fountains installed in your house or pond.
Our interest in fountains includes both the visual beauty of fountains and the peaceful sound of water flowing. Fountains have been around for centuries. Some fountains are tourist attractions. I found this list of famous fountains on USA Today. While I have only seen three of these fountains, I will admit to enjoying the beauty of fountains both large and small.
I expect that you have also tossed a few coins in a fountain at some point in your life. I can remember throwing a few pennies in various fountains over the years. This tradition dates back to ancient culture in which the coins offered would bring a blessing from some Greek or Roman god. I certainly wasn’t looking for a Roman god to bless me when I tossed pennies in various fountains, but I was told that the pennies would bring good luck.
Zechariah and Jeremiah both speak of fountains in their books of prophecy. Jeremiah said that God’s people had 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.”
It seems that we may have the same tendency as our ancient ancestors. How often do we attempt to carve out our own path of security? We seek security in our jobs, our families, our physical property, and our investments. If we just save enough, then we can live peaceful lives and enjoy whatever we want. Jeremiah warns against that plan. What we save and enjoy might bring some peace and satisfaction, but it certainly cannot bring us full and eternal life. Only the fountain of God can bring full and abundant life.
Zechariah spoke of a day to come when a fountain would be opened in the house of David and cleanse God’s people from sin. Zechariah’s prophecy spoke of the coming Christ whose blood was shed on Calvary, so that a fountain of forgiveness and life would come to all people for all time.
Zechariah continued his prophecy, saying that when the fountain of God opened to cleanse us from sin, on that day the Lord of hosts would cut off the names of the idols from the land and they would be remembered no more. We can look back to Genesis and find examples of idol worship. In Genesis 31 we read the story of Laban’s household gods which Rachel stole when Jacob finally broke free from Laban’s control.
The very first commandment that God gave to Moses was to have no other gods. But throughout history, we have had a tendency to lean on other people, on pleasures, on human systems, on political leaders, and on our financial security, as if something other than Christ and Christ alone can save us.
The apostle John speaks clearly in 1 John 1:7 that when we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. To walk in the light of God requires that we daily confess our faith in Christ and bring our sins to him to be covered by his blood. When we do, we experience the marvelous fountain of God’s grace, love, and mercy.
Father, forgive us for the many times and ways we have sought freedom, blessing, or security from anyone but you. Thank you for the fountain of life that you gave us when you sent Jesus to die for our sins. Today we choose to drink freely from the fountain of life and will share your love with those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Jeremiah 2:13; Zechariah 13:1-2; 1 John 1:7; John 7:37-38 ESV
Photo by Matt Jones on Unsplash
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