Where the River Flows

9-19-08

SCRIPTURE

"And it will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there, and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes... But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt." (Ezekiel 47:9-11)

OBSERVATION

The Bible uses rich metaphors to describe (in ways we understand) what God is like. This metaphor is no different. It compares our God with a river. We all know that without fresh water flowing through various pockets of land, life would eventually cease to exist.

In a similar way, Ezekiel paints the picture of a river with every living creature swarming in every place the river goes, contrasted against the swamps and marshes which stagnate and are left to dry into beds of salt.
Where the river flows, therein lies life to the fullest. Without its flowing waters, therein lies death. The river is the very breath and life of God where…“everything will live where the river goes.”

APPLICATION

The same must be said about our hearts. Going with the same metaphor…where the "River of Life" (the Holy Spirit) flows in our hearts, life is experienced to the fullest. However, where dams and dikes stand against the free flowing River of Life, our hearts begin to stagnate, providing a playground for the enemy to live in the stale tide pools. We set up barriers that channels the River away from our hearts in many ways:
Barriers might include:
Unresolved sins;
Unforgiveness;
Undesirable and immoral thoughts and feelings;
Undisciplined lifestyle habits;

Greed;

Lack of compassion;

Worry;
All of these barriers bring death where there once was life.

Jesus said in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." Our lives weren't designed to live in stagnant pools, swamps and marshes. But we will only experience life to its abundance if we allow the River to flow in and through our hearts.

PRAYER

Jesus, let your River of Life flow through my heart today. And as You flow through my heart, cleanse it and wash it from anything that may stand in the way of Life that you have reserved for me. Flow River Flow. Bring life into me so that …“everything will live where the river goes.”