The River Runs Through It

I really enjoy being near water, in the water and on the water. As Spring begins to unfold, I look forward to playing with water. I also enjoy drinking water. I also use it to shower. Water is life giving to our planet. I don’t think I can ever remember a time when I was so extremely thirsty that I thought I’d die.

I’m reminded that there are places in this world where there is not plenty of water. The water they have is not clean. I can hardly put my head around that. We have several sources of water where I live that provides lots of options. There are rivers, streams and lakes. The water seems to know the rules. Rivers usually stay in the banks and the lakes stay steady. When there is and over abundance of rain the river can break the rules and destroy things in it’s path.

Ezekiel speaks of something amazing that he saw while touring the Temple. It’s a cool picture of a river coming from inside and flowing through the Temple. Check this out…

3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in – a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’

12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.’ (Ezekiel 47:3-6;12 NIV)

I love the picture of life giving water coming from inside the Temple. The Lord is the source of the River. He provides life from inside the Temple. The water He provides gives life. I want to drink from this water. Jesus later speaks of being the Living Water. The life that this river brings is not just for life here on earth; it’s life eternal. I also want the water to wash over me. I want the water to sustain me. I want the life giving water that flows from God.

Pressing On!

Dwayne