Healing River (Ezekiel 45-46, 47:1-12)

Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.  Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail.  Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them.  Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. (Ezekiel 47:12)

All good stories end with hope, don’t they?  I watched a movie a number of years ago that ended in a very tragic and hopeless way.  Needless to say, the theater was silent, and the mood was downcast when the movie was over.  Those aren’t the types of stories that I want to read or see on any kind of regular basis.

I think within each one of us is a deep desire that things will turn out right in the end.  We can endure seemingly insurmountable pain as long as we know that things will be made right when all is said and done.  That’s why the end to Ezekiel’s prophecy is so important: the world will not come to a close with doom and gloom – there is hope of healing.

A healing river will flow from the altar in the Temple, and the waters of this river will heal the land: the Dead Sea will become fresh water, and the trees along the river will bring forth fruit all of the months of the year.  God will once again care for His people.  The life-giving water from God will bring fruitfulness to a barren land, and it will bring dead things back to life!

The great news for us today is that we don’t have to wait for the healing river before we can experience the Holy Spirit’s healing presence in our lives.  If you’re dead inside, He can bring you back to life!  God’s presence brings healing.  Your story doesn’t have to end in tragedy – God offers you great hope.  Will you welcome Him?  Doing so is as simple as surrendering your life to Him and accepting Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins.

Father, thank You for the healing river of hope that You provide for us every day.  Thank You that we aren’t cursed to doom and gloom but that we can find healing and hope in Jesus.  Give us courage to hand our very lives into Your hands – trusting that You both know and desire what’s best for us.