July 20th

Hope and Healing Are on the Horizon

Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, Son of man, have you seen this?...This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. Ezekiel 47:5-6,8

It was just another of the many incredible experiences in the life of Ezekiel-an angel was talking to him, taking him on a tour of the future temple in the New Jerusalem.

The angel takes Ezekiel to the doors of the temple to show him some water flowing out from under the threshold. Together, they follow this water away from the temple and the farther they go, the deeper it gets.

At first it's just ankle deep. Then it became knee deep. Then it became waist deep. Finally, the river became a river indeed, one that couldn't be crossed. This river is a picture of our relationship with God, so let me ask you-are you ankle deep, or are you in over your head?

Are you in over your head? Are you being swept away in your love for God? Is it a river that cannot be crossed? Is it a force to be reckoned with? Has it grown to that point? Or are you still playing in the shallows?

God is calling all of us deeper where something wonderful awaits us. Climbing out of the river, Ezekiel shares with us something that the angel told him about it, that it flows to the east and enters a sea whose waters it will heal.

Do you know what sea lies east of Israel? The Dead Sea. And do you know why it's called the Dead Sea? Because nothing can live in it! A lot of us are still living dead lives even though we say we belong to Christ. We're still living with pornography. We're still divorcing our spouses as much or more than the world. We're not letting the river of Christ sweep us away and fill us with the life that God has for us. We're not taking that river of life out to the dying world that needs it so desperately.

The journey to life starts with a decision to follow Christ deeper. Don't settle for ankle deep. Get swept away!

Prayer Lord Jesus,

I repent for settling for an ankle-deep relationship with You; please forgive me! I want everything You have for me. Please lead me into the deeper water until I am swept away for You!

Amen