Deep Water Gospel

Near the end of the book of Ezekiel, the prophet relates a fantastic vision given to him of a river that flows from the temple in Jerusalem down through the barren desert wastelands of southern Judea.

“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?” 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.” (Ezekiel 47:1-9)

I believe this is a literal picture of a river that will someday flow from God’s throne. (Rev. 22:1) But I also think that there are some other present day spiritual applications contained in this vibrant word-picture that the Lord wants us to see.  The river originates from the seat of God’s will – His throne. This river coming from God is a life-giving source, so much so that it even “resurrects” the Dead Sea!  What comes from God’s heart and brings life to everything it touches? His great love! His perfect absolute love that has been “demonstrated in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!”

 It’s not a theological stretch to postulate that this river is a picture of salvation itself; it is the gospel river – the river of a love relationship with Jesus!  It begins in the shallows but the further you move into it the deeper it gets. There are those who want to “get past” teachings on the blood of Jesus and sermons about the cross and move on to so-called “deeper things.” But there are no deeper things! You don’t “get past” the gospel, you only move deeper into it!  If you keep moving in the river, eventually it completely engulfs you.  At this level you are, at first, first terrified to realize that you are no longer are in control. Your feet are not on the ground anymore! But then, because you trust his goodness and his love, you begin to accept that even though you can’t “touch bottom,” you are surrounded by and swimming in his redemptive love, being carried along in the midst of His wonderful will. This is where true freedom is, true authentic living! But to get there, we have to choose to go deeper… and each move costs us something. Ankle-deep water ruins your shoes, knee-level water soaks your pants, waist-deep water destroys your whole suit, and water to swim in even messes up your hair! You have to be willing to get messy to go deep. You have to desire this journey with Jesus more than you care about how you look to the world!

When you “go deep” with Jesus, his love changes you so that your heart mirrors his. You see the world differently.  You see people differently. As Paul wrote,

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view...“

(2 Cor. 5:14-16a)

Not far from where I live now, there is a Christian camp called "A Place for the Heart." Some of you have been there with me on a marriage retreat that we took years ago. On the property, there is an old, nearly illegible grave stone that bears the epitaph:

“He lived his life as broken bread and poured out wine.”

 I don’t know who this man was or how he lived his life, but it seems that he must have lived a life that followed Jesus’ example of sacrificial love. What a testimony to be thought of that way! That’s my heart’s cry, to live such a life.  I know I can’t… but I know Jesus can! Paul talked about “being poured out as a drink offering” as he wrote letters from prison. He would have rather been taking missionary journeys and preaching the gospel to unreached people. But God used him as He wanted, and Paul submitted. “Reckoning himself dead,” he allowed the Lord to use him to help people in a way that still speaks today! “Water to swim in” will take you places you didn’t plan on going, but that journey will be an amazing life!”

The real deep water of the gospel is that it’s not just about the death and resurrection of Jesus. To be sure, it must begin there. There is no other source for the river. But as we move deeper, we find out that the real deep water is this: His death and resurrection makes ours possible - the immediate resurrection of our dead spirit at the moment salvation, the resurrection of our physical bodies when the trumpet sounds at the end of the age, and the daily, moment-by-moment crucifixion of self, which allows for the ongoing resurrection, restoration, and redemption of our souls that conforms us to his image! His finished work on the cross paid for it all and his glorious resurrection guarantees it: spirit, body and soul!