The River of Life

 

The Dead Sea is aptly named. There is little life on the shores of this great inland sea. When I visited Israel last year many in our group swam in the waters and "bathed" in the mud which is claimed to have healing power. Science has even backed this claim in helping with psoriasis, back pain, and inflammation. With all my medical hardware on my body, I didn't do my own testing!

In Ezekiel's vision recorded in chapter 47, a river flows from the temple in Jerusalem east to the Dead Sea. This healing river is to make the salty waters of the Dead Sea pure. Then life will sprout from the waters and on the shores. What a sight! 

We could sure use that life-giving water right now. Instead, there is war and turmoil once again in the Middle East. It is so easy to give up hope for this region and around the world. Yet, we are promised abundant life through Jesus Christ. Jesus is our new Temple and, indeed, he does give us life. 

Don't let the trials of life get you down. Don't focus on the evil being displayed in Gaza, Ukraine, China, Russia, or North Korea. Focus on Jesus Christ the life-giving waters that can flood your soul, if you just rest in him. This life is not just for the Jews. It is for all of us. Look what it says in Ezekiel 47:22-23:

"Divide the land within these boundaries among the tribes of Israel. Distribute the land as an allotment for yourselves and for the foreigners who have joined you and are raising their families among you. They will be like native-born Israelites to you and will receive an allotment among the tribes. These foreigners are to be given land within the territory of the tribe with whom they now live. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!" (Ezekiel 47:22-23)

God is not exclusive to any one group or nation. He is the God and Lord of All. We must choose to live within his safe arms and he will treat us like we are his very own. PRAISE GOD!