Last weekend we reflected on Ezekiel’s vision of the River of Life in Ezekiel 47. This prophecy began to be fulfilled in the early church and that continues in our time as the Holy Spirit moves throughout the world. This outpouring of God’s Spirit is not only uncontainable, it is inexhaustible. The image is taken up in Revelation 22 where we see the River of Life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. In other words, the river that flows now continues to flow forever. And note the effect of the river as it is described in Revelation 22:2: it feeds a tree of life which brings healing to the nations. The imagery here echoes Psalm 1 which exhorts us to be planted by this river and to yield this fruit. In other words, by the Holy Spirit we become trees of life yielding the fruit of the Spirit for the healing of the nations. The Holy Spirit wants to fill your life in ever increasing measure. There is always more and there always will be. To be filled with the Holy Spirit we must do what Psalm 1 tells us to do. We must give our full attention to God’s Word and plant ourselves in his purpose. You don’t have to wait for the new life in the new heavenly earth to plant yourself by the River of Life. The Holy Spirit is given now as a foretaste of what we will enjoy then. But this foretaste is given that we might share it. It isn’t just for us. It is for the healing of the nations.
Ask God to empower you to be a source of healing for those around you.
Read Revelation 22:1-5 and Psalm 1.
