Go on Downstream

"He brought me to the door of the temple and water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple. Going on with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through... I saw on the bank of the river very many trees. And he said to me, “Everything will live where the river goes, because the water flows from the sanctuary.” (from Ezekiel 47:1-12)

            The temple of God signifies the presence of God, that place where people go to meet with the Lord, and what flows from that place of intimacy is nothing short of life-giving water.  Water: that source and symbol of health, satisfaction, vitality and success.  In the absence of water, death reigns. Take it away and vibrant landscapes are quickly transformed into desert wastelands.  Even so, apart from the presence of Christ, men perish - and those who survive only languish in their souls... even if they manage to prosper in their bodies. Ezekiel was shown a vision of life-giving water flowing from the temple of God, and "going on" downstream he found two things to be true. First, he noticed the water getting deeper.  Second, he became increasingly aware of his inadequacy to navigate these waters.  It was only ankle-deep near the mouth of the river. Here, a man could wade in, splash around, and leave the water until deciding to return. In other words, he controlled his experience of the water.  But the further downstream Ezekiel traveled, the deeper the water became. Stepping in would surely plunge him into a raging torrent, causing him to be swept away by a force beyond his control.

            Many a man thinks he has a thorough grasp on the life of God; that because he has read theological treatises or attended church services, he now understands all that he ought.  Familiar with religious matters, he imagines that he may navigate Divine waters with ease.  Such a man is stuck in ankle-deep water.  Sure, he has encountered God, but just enough to offer occasion for boasting and not nearly enough to produce any real life.  On the other hand, the man who has "gone on" downstream experiences the same God, but on a wholly different, and deeper, level.  He's no longer confident or self-assured. No, he's scared to death - but all at once filled with life! Show me a man who is comfortable with God, speaking of him casually, and I'll show you a man who is splashing around in the shallow end.  But show me a man who is familiar with a sense of personal failing, filled with fear and trembling, who hesitates to approach God, and I'll show you a man who has "gone on" downstream and submerged himself into Divine waters.

            The closer we get to God, the more vast and awesome he should become - and the more insufficient we should feel.  But who wants to feel insufficient?! Why not just stay upstream?  Simple. Because all the life is downstream! The only thing needed in order to "go on" downstream is a willingness to relinquish control.  Most of us stay in the shallow water because we're afraid of where the raging waters might carry us. But when it comes to God, our risk is directly proportionate to our joy. The more we trust, the more we gain. Yes, if you step into that river, you may drown - but you also may learn to swim! No matter what though, you'll find yourself downstream where, by the promise of God, the trees grow tall and the fruit hangs heavy on the branches.  Then, rather than struggling to discover paradise on your own terms, you'll be swept into it on God's.

"To have found God and still to pursue him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart." AW Tozer

A God Who Saves

"The people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God... The LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Exodus 2:23, 3:7-8

            This is the season when we celebrate the birth of Christ, and one might wonder what the Exodus story has to do with Christmas.  But in celebrating the birth of Christ, we're not just remembering some isolated historical event where God decided to save.  No, we're celebrating a God who saves.  It is in God's nature to save.  He has been saving, rescuing and redeeming since the beginning of time - or at least since man decided to walk away from him.  God could have let us go, but he didn't.  He pursued us - and he continues to pursue us today. 

            Consider the comprehensive nature of God's salvation.  "I have seen; and have heard; I know; I have come down to deliver." You see the connection to Christmas? God saw our pitiful state. "You were dead in your sins."  He knew our hopeless situation, and He responded by coming down in the form of a man, Jesus Christ, to deliver us from the bondage of sin. "I will deliver him; I will protect him.  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” But notice something.  God doesn't just save us from sin.  He saves us for a life of blessedness and joy.  Hence, when he intervened for the Israelites, he not only delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians, but then he carried them "to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey."

            The prophet Zephaniah wrote that God is "a mighty one who will save!"  I don't know what you're facing this Christmas, but be assured that God sees your pain.  No one on earth may know the depths of your past sin or your current shame, but God knows - and he loves you anyway.  Cry out to him.  He will hear you.  He has promised to respond, to come down and deliver you.  In fact, he already has.  The Christmas story is proof that God is a God who saves. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light!" Respond to the light of God's Son today, and trust that he will lift you out of your bondage and bring you into a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Come to Jesus

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem…” Matthew 2:1

            Everyone knows the Christmas story, but for a lot of people Jesus is frozen in time as a cute little baby in a manger.  "Come let us adore him," yes, but for many this isn't a picture of worshiping King Jesus as much as fawning over an infant.  We're happy reciting the story, feeling the feelings, and singing the carols, and there's a great climax leading up to December 25th, but the experience quickly fizzles with the arrival of a new year.  For the wise men though, the real significance of Jesus didn't end with his birth -  it began there!

            "Wise men from the east came.”  You may not see the Christmas story as relevant for you, but these men were as far from Judaism as you could get.  They were from a foreign land with foreign gods. They had their own ideas about religion and were arguably the last people who should care about a Jewish King. But God proved in their coming that salvation is for all people... He has no favorites! So whether you're a drug addict, divorce survivor, or poverty-stricken single mother, you may be tempted to think that God has passed you over, but Jesus’ very name means "God saves."  He is in the business of redeeming and restoring, so if you feel a need for deliverance, rescue, hope – then you’re a prime candidate for the grace and mercy of God. 

            Finally, notice that the wise men came. They had studied the skies, heard about a star, talked extensively about it with each other, but there came a day when their suspicions were confirmed.  At this point, they packed up and set out for a foreign land in search of a mysterious King. They left their comfortable existence 500 miles behind and came to Jesus.  You may have attended church 1,000 times and donated $10,000 to charity, but it all amounts to ZERO if never come to Jesus.  You may be comfortable with an infant in a manger who will leave you alone, but Jesus grew up! Today, he's the King of Kings who sits on his throne, defends his honor, invades hearts and minds to establish his reign.

            In the past, you may have experienced Christmas vicariously through your church, your pastor, your Christmas carols or your family members, but God is calling you into the Christmas story to experience Christ for yourself. So let Jesus live in you.  Don't push him away.  His reign is gracious and his kingdom is glorious. You won't be disappointed.