Which cistern, or well, are we? Or, what kind of cistern do we have? Oh, well, some may think that a cistern is a cistern, or a well is a well. We can find many references about each of them. So many things come to mind of what a cistern is and what meaning that has in regard to each of us.
In 2 Kings 18:31, promises of Rab sha keh are that, if they would listen to him, he would take them to a better place. By surrendering to him the enemy, they would have food, honey, and waters of his cistern. Cisterns are built to hold water for storage, to be used whenever needed (for people as well as livestock). Food and water are basic necessities for life. This is an empty promise, with death as it end and reward of surrender to the enemy. His cisterns are empty, broken; with no true water to sustain life.
There are many kinds of cisterns; dry, broken, shallow, or ones that are perfected because they are cisterns prepared to hold the Rivers of Waters: the filling of the cisterns, by the Holy Spirit, rivers of Living Water for the fulfilling of life's purposes. When we, as a cistern of the Lord, are being filled and emptied out to be used, we are then vibrant and alive for the fulfilling of His purposes. If there is not a constant inflow of Living Waters into us (His Cisterns) and a continual out-flowing of the Living Waters to serve His purposes, we become stagnated and slowly die.
If we listen and trust in Satan and his lies, we become cracked and can't contain the water, wherein it leaks out and is not used.
Who we trust in and listen to determines the health and physical condition of our cistern. God's people were made empty promises by the Assyrian king. II Kings 18:28, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria." (29) "Thus saith the king, Let not Hez e ki ah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand."
In verse 30, "Neither let Hez e ki ah make you trust in the Lord, saying, 'The Lord shall surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the King of Assyria.'" So, all the promises of the false one, Satan (through his servants), are empty promises - to anyone who will listen and go with him. The only reward he can give is the wages of sin is death.
We need to ask ourselves, "What kind of cistern are we?" We need to learn to listen to God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit - as they speak to us through the Word. We need to keep our cistern cleaned and ready to receive the Living Waters, then let them flow through us. Thus, we will be a mighty cistern, reserved for the use of God, the Father, and Lord, Jesus Christ, to fulfill the whole purpose of why we were born.
We need to learn not to listen to Satan and his demons but, instead, listen only to God. Thus, we can become a perfected cistern, to be used as an instrument in the hands of God. What a glory He will shed on our way. His divine protection and mercies will then encompass us, totally; for abundance of peace, joy, andÊa vibrant life in Christ.
So, what kind of cistern do you want to be?
© 2003 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson
realvern@compuage.com
http://walkinginvictory.20m.com/