Have You Forsaken God?

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 (King James Version)

I remember I talked about this verse many, many years ago, in one of the first sermons I've ever preached. I haven't thought about it much in the years since. I've read it a few times as I've read through the Bible. But, today, was different. I was floored, much like the first time I read this verse, and the chapter as a whole. Have we, or more specifically have I, forsaken God?


⁵hus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 
-Jeremiah 2:5-6 (KJV)

The Lord asks "What fault have you found in me, that you are gone from me, and have walked after vanity?" Verse 6 reveals all He has done for the Israelites. He brought them up from slavery in the land of Egypt, He led them through deserts, through droughts, through land that no one was able to pass through. Yet after all this, they turned away from God. It's easy for you and me to sit here and cast judgement on them for forsaking God. Yet, don't we do the exact same thing? What has God led you through? Are we so vain as to think that we can give God an hour of half hearted worship and think we are doing Him a favor?

The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
-Jeremiah 2:8 (KJV)

First, the Lord asks the people why they have forsook Him. Now, He asks the Pastors and Priests why. He says, "The priests didn't seek Me, those who teach the Law didn't know me. The Pastors also sinnned against me, and walked after things that did not profit." The Pastors and Priests, those who proclaim the Word of God, left Him and chased after worthless things. Once again, it's easy for us to sit here and cast judgement on those religious leaders. But, we must ask one thing. We must ask ourselves if we, too, have left God and chased after worthless things. Many will say, "Well, I'm just following the example of my leaders." They would be right in saying that. However, we each must account for what we've done in life. Are you chasing after worthless things, and in turn leaving God? Or do you chase after God and His Word?

 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
-Jeremiah 2:11 (King James Version)

This verse may be one of the saddest in the Scriptures. Why? Because God says that they have changed their glory (some translations have a capital G which signifies God, so the nation changed their Glory would mean that they have turned their back on the Glory of God) for worthless things. They are no longer searching for God, and following God. Instead, they chase after those things which don't profit them anything. I've seen alot on the news lately about this new "religion" called "Chrislam." Maybe you've heard of it. It's an attempt to mix Christianity with Islam, creating a new religion. How far have we strayed from God? Reports are that churches in 32 states of the USA read from the koran in June. My God, how far have we strayed?


²⁷Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. ²⁸But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. 
-Jeremiah 2:27-28 (KJV)

God is saying to them, "You call a piece of wood "father" and say to a stone "thou has brought me forth." This is so sad, they created idols to worship, and turned their backs on the One True God, the One who brought them out of slavery into a land they can call their own. How sad. And then, after turning their backs on God, when time of trouble come, they call out to Him to save them! Friends, can't you see how you and I do the exact same thing?!? When everything is going well, we forget God even exists. We give Him that hour a week in a worship service that we really don't pay attention to, and then we expect Him to jump into action at our beck and call! This shouldn't be! Look what He says in verse 28, "But where are thy god that thou hast made...let them arise, if they can save the in the time of thy trouble." In other words, God is saying, "Let those dumb idols save you if they can!"

This brings us back to the original passages I posted.
¹³For 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.

We have committed two evils. One, we have forsaken God. We have turned to things that are worthless and profit us nothing, while we turned our back on the One thing that matters most. Two, we have created our own cisterns. We created our own gods, our own things to provide for us. But, God says they are broken, and can hold nothing. The fountain of living waters is referring to the refreshing that being close to God can bring us. Notice, the cisterns that we have dug for ourselves cannot hold that water. Friends, it's time to come back to God. It's time to cast out those worthless things in life, and follow the One True God. Are you ready to repent of what you've made of your life? Think About It.