Bible Passage: “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.” (Ezekiel 47:9 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-12
Failure doesn’t look or feel good to men.
We are conditioned by society, and, I think, by our own inner brokenness, to view success as the ultimate measure, the only one that really matters.
If we are not successful—the most money, the best cars, house, job with an impressive title—something has gone wrong in life.
We need not tear apart the flaws and dangers in that logic. But there is a failure that seems deeper, more significant.
What if we have failed spiritually? Are we perhaps of no more use to God because of our deeds, or, more specifically, our misdeeds?
Sure, we know God forgives. We’ve reveled in the story of Peter’s restoration (John 21:15-19). But secretly, we wonder if we are simply too far away. How does the forgiveness of God reach where we are?
Fortunately, God’s life flows from Him like a rushing river.
Ezekiel is treated to a vision of it in chapter 47. He gets to see the River of Life. He gets to see that wherever it flows, life springs. It’s waters soften what is hard, moisten what is dry, and enliven what is withered and dead.
“Where the river flows, everything will live.”
There may be sin in your past. Perhaps in your present. You are not beyond the reach of the River of Life. The briny taste of salt water is not your future. The fresh water of God can bring life to you as it brings life to all that it touches.
My friends, it is good news for you and for me that the streams of our failures are not the strongest force in our stories. The River of God is stronger still. Its waters overrun and overwhelm the bitter waters of our sin and bring new life.
Let us not wallow in the bog, consigning ourselves to remain in the filth and grime of our sins. Let us swim in the River that brings life, to feel the freshness of His waters flowing over and past us. No man is so dirty that His waters cannot clean, not so dead that His River cannot bring life.
Prayer: God of life, let Your River wash over me and cleanse me from my sins. Let Your water rinse me clean and bring me new life. Amen.
Reflection: What areas of your life does the River of Life need to wash? Bring them to God in prayer today.
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