I realized something very important about myself this past week, thanks to the leading of the Holy Spirit (sometimes I don't really like those moments) that was hard for me to swallow, in fact, 6 days later, it is still lodged in my throat.
One of my many short falls is I tolerate sin. I tolerate sin that is around me and sadly and more importantly, i tolerate the sin from within. Friends, that is not good or in the words of an ancient prayer, "I have destroyed myself, my nature is defiled, the powers of my would are degraded; I am vile, miserable, strengthless, but MY HOPE is in THEE." And to cut to the crap, that was the killer for the Israelites and why they wondered in wilderness for 40 years and lived in captivity for 70 years. It is why God had to send us a Savior to free us from our love of sin.
That is pretty much the context for Ezekiel 47. It has been a very dark season for the Israelites, God's chosen people. They have been in captivity for 70 years, but as the Lord promised, after 70 years, they would experience freedom and the Lord is hoping that they have glad hearts to go back to Jerusalem. The tragedy is that some of God's people became accustomed to Babylon and Persia ways and wanted to stay. By the way, we are warned many times in the New Testament about becoming accustomed to the ways of this world because it is not where we belong. We belong in the Promised Land. We belong in the heavenly realms (Colossians 3:1). So be on guard against the things of this world. There is something far greater that awaits us. In fact, getting ahead of myself, but vv.13-23 is like reading Numbers 34:1-12 where God divided up the land for the 12 tribes in the PROMISED LAND. So cool, but i want to go back to the amazing promise in the first 12 verses of Ezekial 47. I want to help you capture this moment with snapshots:
Snapshot 1:
vv.1-2 - there was water trickling out on the south side of the temple. Imagine a vase with a crack in the side of it and water is trickling down the side of it flowing downward, that is the picture that the Spirit wants us to see. I am so giddy already. That is the first visual. Got it?
Snapshot 2:
The Spirit led me on into the east and had me stand in the water and it was ankle deep. Now visualize the ocean, i love feeling the water splash up on you as you are standing ankle-deep in the water, plus it feels really safe there, doesn't it? We like safe! And I think some of us are content to stay there, but the Spirit is not content in leaving us there.
Snapshot 3:
The Spirit led me east and now the water in knee-deep. Knee-deep is still safe but at this point, we can start feeling the power of the waves and have to take a bit of precaution to stand upright. But He doesn't want us to stay there either. But, i don't think I want to go any deeper. I still remember that stage with my kiddos when they were little. Knee-deep is good enough. It isn't though if we really want to take in the beauty and power of the ocean. We must trek on.
Snapshot 4:
He led me east some more and now we are waist-deep. At this point, some are going back to either knee-deep or maybe even to the shore to grab a towel, but Jesus wants us to not stay here, but go even deeper. What cracks me up with the waist-deep is that moment when you are chilly and know it would be much better to go completely under to get it over with, but we just can't do it yet. So we stand there like idiots with our arms out of the water and standing on our tippy-toes. But the Spirit isn't done yet.
Snapshot 5:
He took me one more step to the point that it was either swim or go back. No more luxury of standing on our own, we are totally reliant upon the power of the waves and where they want to take us. A few years ago i taught my girls how to ride waves in the Atlantic Ocean and it was a blast and yet very intimidating at the same time. I love that feeling and now I get the sense, that is what a vibrant relationship with Jesus looks like. Let go and hang on. I told my girls to take a deep breath and jump when the wave came and where we ended up was so much fun because sometimes we would get flipped around and twisted around, but when we came up, we could see again. FUN!
Snapshot 6:
Now we are back at the bank or the beach for you ocean lovers :). He wanted me to take a look to see what He wanted me to see. And I saw trees. Many trees. And the beauty of the trees on the banks means that the water was doing some good for them and here is where this gets exciting. The water keeps flowing to the east and goes down into the Arabah and then enters the sea. Does anyone know what sea it flows into? THE DEAD SEA. And do you know what the water that started as a trickle from the Temple does? It brings life to whatever it touches because fresh water does that. And with this life giving water we see trees and plants that produce fruit and you know what else we see? Fishermen. Haha. They are standing there catching fish because the fish are lively, for they live in the fresh water from the Temple. AND IT STARTED LIKE A LEAK FROM A VASE. It is like the Mississippi River. The start of the Mississippi is small enough that you can physically jump over it, but so intimidating by the time it gets to St. Louis that it takes a dare for you to even put your toe in it.
So the way I look at it we have three options from these scenes:
1. Stay in the Temple. But let me tell you friends, life was not to be lived in the Temple. Sure, the Temple is safe but to take on the flesh and blood of Jesus, there's more than just staying in the Temple.
2. Swim in the dead sea. I've done it. You've done it. Some of you are doing it now. The dead sea is, well, DEAD! Nothing good comes out of the dead sea. It is lifeless, acidic, and destructive.
3. Jump in the river. Let the water bring you to life. Now, understand to experience life you will also experience some flips and twists and maybe even a bit of pain or suffering. But it is flowing eastward and leading us to the ULTIMATE TEMPLE where we are made new again. To stay put in the Temple, believe it or not, we will miss out being made new again. To be in the dead sea, well, that's easy...no being made new again. Both places are safe by the way, you can even float in the dead sea without fighting to stay afloat. So you can lay back and relax...and die. But the river, oh my friends, the river leads to new life. And the best part, we don't have to wait until we make it to the Promise Land to start getting a taste of the new life, we can taste it today, right now, wherever you may be, just make a decision and jump in the river with me. We can keep an eye on each other.
To finish up, I love the Pilgrim's Progress moment when Christian finally sees the Celestial City at the end of his long and tiresome journey and he just can't get to it quick enough, but there is one more challenge that lays before him and it is the river of death. To make matters worse, Christian can't swim and so he is left with a choice. Stay put or jump in the river. Christian chose wisely even though it tossed him around and caused him to be afraid, but nonetheless he is in the river and with all of his strength finally crosses it and it safely home. And guess what, he is new again. And if we asked Christian the question, was it worth it? He wouldn't even hesitate except with a smile on his face and twinkle in his eye...oh my friend, it is so worth it. Jump in the river friends, don't wait.
