Do you know which National Park is the most popular park in the United States? It is Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is famous for its geysers. And do you know which geyser is the most famous in Yellowstone? That’s right – Old Faithful! Why is Old Faithful the most popular geyser in the world?
- It is not the biggest geyser!
- It is not the loudest geyser!
- It is not the longest geyser!
- It is not the highest geyser!
- It is not the grandest geyser!
Old Faithful is popular because Old Faithful is faithful! You can count on it. Every day, several times a day, the water from Old Faithful bursts from the ground in a magnificent display of power and beauty. The writer of Lamentations had never been to Yellowstone, but if he had I’m sure it would have reminded him of God. Listen to his words:
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:21-26 NIV)
Like the consistent geyser – only better – God’s love and compassion regularly erupt from his throne. As his children we stand under the shower of his faithfulness. Every day he upholds our world (Colossians 1:16-17). Everyday he is good to the righteous and unrighteous alike (Matthew 5:43-45). Every day the certainty of his love enables me to rejoice (Psalm 118:24). And every day he carries on the good work he began in us (Philippians 1:6). Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, he is faithful.
Jeremiah ministered in tough times. He is known as “the weeping prophet,” yet he was able to carry on in the midst of the troubling times in which he served God. Why? Jeremiah knew the LORD, the Faithful One, was just moments from another eruption of mercy and compassion. If Jeremiah had to wait another sixty minutes, sixty days, or sixty years, that was okay. He knew God would come through again, for God is faithful.
Looking back in appreciation or ahead in anticipation I can live in peace, for the certainty of God’s faithfulness comforts me.
FOCAL POINT: When your car faithfully starts once again, let it remind you of Jeremiah’s words “great is your faithfulness.” Look back in appreciation, ahead in anticipation, and thank God for his incredible faithfulness. And if the car doesn’t start, well, thank God he is much more consistent than that!
Copyright © 2009 Tommy Kiedis