The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side. 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. 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. 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. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Ezekiel 47:1-6 NIV
Ezekiel’s vision is a great analogy to our spiritual journey. At the start he simply sees the water flowing from the temple but it’s not deep enough to make any real impact. Of course he believes the water exists because he can see it. This reminds me of James 2:19, You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. (NIV) Every spiritual journey starts with belief in God, but unless you go deeper, it won’t impact your life.
The man leads him farther and the water becomes ankle deep, then knee deep, then waist deep until finally it’s referred to as a river deep enough to swim in. No longer can the river be crossed. In other words you cannot casually enter in, cross through, and walk away. Nor can you stand still in the water. This water is deep. You need to swim or at least tread water. The river requires you to engage and be active within it. The same is true in your faith. If you want to know God you need to go deep, you need to be actively engaged.
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 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 47:7-12 NIV
Where the river flows everything will live! Remember the women at the well who Jesus encountered when he was passing through Samaria? Jesus offered her living water. This water is full of life. Ezekiel says the water is teeming with swarms of living creatures! When you are deep in your spiritual journey, actively engaging with Jesus you are full of life! After all, He is the author of life! The trees that grow on the bank of this river are healthy and very fruitful. Jesus said, If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5b NIV As long as the trees grow close to the river, their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them! Are you committed to stay close to the living water?
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38 NIV In the Old Testament the temple referred to a building, but the New Testament refers to believers as the temple of the Holy Spirit. If you are a believer, you get to be a conduit of this living water! You have the privilege of allowing the Spirit of God to flow out of your life and bring new life to other people! When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Think about the impact that you can have on the world when you allow this living water to flow through you!
How deep do you want to go in your relationship with Jesus?
Enjoy this song by Stephen Curtis Chapman – Dive