Sin is, in truth, deeply destructive. It creeps into people’s daily lives and distorts our reasoning to such an extent that it seems as though sin is no longer a problem. It is here that the destructive power of sin begins to grow stronger and take a firm hold. Consider the corrupt officials who so casually plunder this nation’s wealth and feel absolutely no guilt. Thus, faith in God is a process of realising the destructive power of sin and recognising that only God has the power to save. 

This is how God describes the condition of Judah, which had been so corrupted by sin. Jeremiah 14:1 affirms that “The sins of Judah are written with an iron pen and a diamond point; they are engraved on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars as a warning to them.&” Just as a craftsman’s engraving is firmly etched upon his creations, so too does Judah’s sin endure eternally and remain fixed. It is engraved upon the horns of the altar—an expression that points to an ironic turn of events. The altar, which should have been a place of worship to the Lord, instead became a witness to their unfaithfulness. Throughout history, this is what has happened. Time and again God upheld His covenant, and time and again the people turned away from Him. 

In the context of Judah, at that time they even turned away from God and relied on human strength. They regarded other kingdoms as a more reliable source of help than God, the Lord of the universe. Yet those kingdoms merely sought to profit from Judah’s frustration. Therefore, God called them to return to Him. Turning to the living spring that provides true life—that is the close and eternal relationship with God. It is here that Jeremiah sets an example for the people to trust firmly in God and never turn away again. 

Realise that our hearts and minds are not always pure and do not always lead us to the truth. At times we succumb to temptation and mistakenly choose to place our trust and hope in powers other than God.  Therefore, every believer is invited to return to God and receive the water of life from Him. God’s blessings and presence also enable us to be a blessing to others. This is where we must make a choice: whether to  rely on powers other than God, or to continue to place our trust in the Lord at all times.