I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the
temple toward the east (Ezekiel
47:1).
Ezekiel sees water
coming out from under the temple and continuing east to the Dead Sea. At first
this river is only ankle deep, but soon it is over Ezekiel’s head and more than
a mile wide. Water represents life. The presence of God restored to the temple
brings life to Judah and eventually to the entire world. The river flows into
the Dead Sea and even makes its salt water fresh, bringing life where there was
only lifelessness.
A few days ago I
took a break from editing this book to do some hiking in Yellowstone National
Park. I chose a rather easy trail with negligible elevation changes because my
atrial fibrillation leaves me feeling quite out of breath when hiking uphill
for extended distances. The temperature was supposed to be in the mid 60s, but
soared to more than 85 – I know that doesn’t sound that hot, but factor in the
blazing sun and the 7,000 foot elevation, and even though I had water with me,
I didn’t have enough. After six and a half miles in Yellowstone’s back country,
I rewarded myself with a refreshing 2000 mls. of intravenous normal saline in
an emergency clinic.
Surely this
life-giving river was in John’s mind when he wrote: Then the angel
showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the
throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.
On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of
fruit, yielding its fruit every month (Revelation 22:1,2).
Just as water brings
life to the driest desert, the presence of God brings life to the most desolate
heart.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Are you thirsty? For what?
No comments:
Post a Comment