“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city” (Revelation 22:1).
When Eden is restored, a river will flow from the throne of God and through the New Jerusalem. Consider that the river is God Himself flowing through every part of the city, every person in Heaven. It seems too wonderful for words, but it adds to my deepest longings. “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is not water” (Psalm 63:1).
God the Father is a River
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me the Spring of Living Water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13). Men walk away from God and choose to live on their own, which does not take away their longings. They substitute God with other things, but find no satisfaction. There is no one like God who satisfies our longings and gives meaning to life.
God the Son is a River
“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He gave His life on the cross to take away our sin. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can cleanse us and purify our hearts. God gave His Only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
God the Spirit is a River
Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). He said to the woman at the well, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10). This woman tried to live on her own. She had been married five times and was living with a man she wasn’t married to. She asked Jesus about worship. He said, “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). The woman was an outcast, but Jesus showed her respect. Be cause He did, she became the first evangelist of Sychar, and many others received His love as she did.
Let the River Flow Through You
Everything that has lasting value flows from the throne of God. This world has many distractions, and without God in our lives, we are left with frustration, anger, anxiety, loneliness, hatred and violence. It doesn’t have to be that way. We were never meant to stand alone. God made us for His pleasure and wants to be with us. He is not a God that looks down and judges us, making a distance between us and Him. Don’t run from Him when you do things you know are against His will for you. Run to Him as David did after he sinned with Bathsheba and murdered her husband. He said, “You are my hiding place” (Psalm 32:7). He didn’t run or hide from God when he sinned. No, he ran to God for redemption. It doesn’t matter what sin you have committed, because God is ready to forgive you and remove your sins as far as the east is from the west. Let this river of God flow through you and give you peace.
Prayer
Thank you, Father God, for your Son and your Spirit. Teach us to hide in you for cleansing and renewal. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Closer Walk with God 