During the Covid pandemic, the U.S. housing market went haywire. Inventory went down 37% and prices went up 24%, both setting records. The housing market got so bizarre that a Bethesda, Maryland, homebuyer included in her written offer a pledge to name her first-born child after the seller. She lost the bid (Tim Levin, “Redfin's CEO reveals his biggest takeaways from the wild housing market,” Business Insider, 5-25-21; www.Preaching Today.com).
I’m glad those days are over, but it raises a question: What do you do when you live in desperate times? What do you do when you not only lose a bid, but you lose everything?
The prophet Ezekiel was writing to a people whose homeland had been destroyed. Their capital and temple were in ruins, and they were far away from home. They had literally lost everything, but God gave Ezekiel a vision of their future which gave them hope, and it will give you hope, as well. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Ezekiel 47, Ezekiel 47, where God gives hope to people living in desperate times.
Ezekiel 47:1-2 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side (ESV).
In the previous chapters, God describes a returned people to restored worship in a rebuilt temple. Here, God takes Ezekiel outside the Temple, where he sees water trickling east from under the Temple past the altar and out the east gate on its south side.
Ezekiel 47:3-6a Going on eastward 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, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” (ESV).
What Ezekiel saw was a river running from the Temple, which got deeper the further east it ran. At 1,500 feet, it was ankle deep. At 3,000 feet, it was knee deep. At 4,500 feet, it was waist deep. At 6,000 feet (a little over a mile), it was over his head. This is highly unusual, because a trickle of water usually dissipates. In this case, the trickle of water becomes a river deep enough to swim in. Furthermore, that river brings life to the desert.
Ezekiel 47:6b-8 Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh” (ESV).
This river flows through the Arabah (i.e., the desert) into the Dead Sea, turning its salt water into fresh water and filling it with life.
Ezekiel 47:9-10 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea [or the Mediterranean Sea] (ESV).
I remember floating on the Dead Sea when I visited the Holy Land several years ago (1999). It usually takes some effort for me to lay on my back in the water, but floating in the Dead Sea was like lying on a waterbed.
That’s because the Dead Sea is six times saltier than the ocean, but one day that sea will become completely salt free! On top of that, it will sustain an abundance of marine life, so much so that fisherman will line its shores to catch a great number of fish.
Ezekiel 47:11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt (ESV).
While the river makes the Dead Sea fresh, it leaves the swamps and marshes near the sea crusted with salt. You see, salt is essential to life, and the Dead Sea area is Israel’s chief source of salt. God will provide Israel with an abundance of fish, an abundance of salt, and an abundance of fruit.
Ezekiel 47:12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing (ESV).
All this will happen when Israel’s Messiah returns to sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 34:23-25). When Ezekiel writes these words, Israelis are destitute. They had lost their homes, their temple, and most of their possessions. But when their Messiah comes, they will regain all that and more! This river, which flows out of the rock under the temple and past the altar will abundantly provide everything they need.
Oh, dear Lord, please, give me some of that riverfront property! Now, while this prophecy specifically relates to Israel’s future, you and I can get a taste of it today.
Jesus may have had this river in mind when he stood in the Temple and said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” To which the Gospel writer explains, “Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39).
Now, Jesus is the Rock from which the river flows (1 Corinthians 10:4) past the altar of His cross into a dry and thirsty world. That means the Holy Spirit can flow from you like a river of living water!
All you need to do is believe in Jesus! Trust Him with your life and He will give you His Spirit in abundant measure so that you can bless a world in desperate need of Him. So, dear friend, please, put your trust in Christ and…
SWIM IN THE RIVER OF LIFE!
In these desperate times, immerse yourself in God’s Holy Spirit. Dive deep into His presence in your life.
On the Day of Pentecost, after Jesus had died, rose again, and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit descended on a group of believers huddled together in an upper room in Jerusalem.
John Piper describes that day, asking us to picture a huge dam for hydroelectric power under construction, like the Aswan High Dam on the Nile, 375 feet high and 11,000 feet across. Egypt's President Nasser announced the plan for construction in 1953. The dam was completed in 1970 and in 1971 there was a grand dedication ceremony and the 12 turbines with their ten billion kilowatt-hour capacity were unleashed with enough power to light every city in Egypt.
During the long period of construction, the Nile River wasn't completely stopped. Even as the reservoir was filling, part of the river was allowed to flow past. The country folk downstream depended on it. They drank it, they washed in it, it watered their crops and turned their millwheels. They sailed on it in the moonlight and wrote songs about it. It was their life. But on the day when the reservoir poured through the turbines a power was unleashed that spread far beyond the few folk down river and brought possibilities they had only dreamed of.
Well, Pentecost was like the dedicatory opening of the Aswan High Dam. Before Pentecost the river of God's Spirit blessed the people of Israel and was their very life. But after Pentecost the power of the Spirit spread out to light the whole world. None of the benefits enjoyed in the pre-Pentecostal days were taken away. But ten billion kilowatts were added to enable the church to take the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ to every tongue and tribe and nation (John Piper, “Was the Holy Spirit not on Earth before Pentecost,” Gospel Coalition Blogs, 5-24-15; www.PreachingToday.com).
That’s what happens when the Holy Spirit flows like a river through you. Before Pentecost, a few believers could only sip on the Spirit. Now, all those who depend on Christ can swim in the Spirit and bring His life-giving message to a dry and thirsty world.
So, go ahead. Immerse yourself in God’s Spirit by spending time in His Word and in prayer. Dive deep into the relationship you have with God’s Spirit through faith in God’s Son. Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you so He can flow from you to a world of people in desperate need of Him. In these desperate times, swim in the River of Life. Then…
SHARE IN THE INHERITANCE.
Look forward to receiving a portion of the Promised Land. Anticipate owning a piece of that riverfront property God pledged that His people would own. With their home in ruins, God says to His people in exile…
Ezekiel 47:13-20 Thus says the Lord GOD: “This is the boundary by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. And you shall divide equally what I swore to give to your fathers. This land shall fall to you as your inheritance. “This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, and on to Zedad, Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enan, which is on the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This shall be the north side. “On the east side, the boundary shall run between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This shall be the east side. “On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side. “On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side (ESV).
This is the same land God promised to Israel at the end of their wilderness wanderings right before they crossed the Jordan River nearly a 1,000 years previously (Numbers 34:1-12). It was land they never fully occupied; but when their Messiah returns, they will own all the land God promised to them. Even more amazing, Gentiles will share in Israel’s inheritance, as well.
Ezekiel 47:21-23 “So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord GOD (ESV).
A “sojourner” is a stranger, a foreigner living in the land. Now, the Mosaic Law required Israel to treat foreigners in their land with justice and kindness (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:10; and Deuteronomy 14:29). But they never owned a piece of the Land. Under Messiah’s rule, foreigners will actually own property in the Promised Land. The distinctions between resident aliens and Israelites will be eliminated. Believing Jews and Gentiles will share and share alike in God’s coming kingdom. God will give every believer some of that riverfront property!
Ephesians 1 says, “In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:11-14).
When you put your faith in Christ, God gives you His Holy Spirit, which guarantees your inheritance in the Promised Land.
Peter praised God for that inheritance when he said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Oh dear believing friend, in the midst of your loss, look forward to that inheritance kept in heaven for you; because when Jesus comes again, you will gain so much more than you ever lost.
The Door in the Wall is the title for two very different stories written in the 20th Century.
Marguerite de Angeli wrote one of the stories, which won the Newbery Medal for children's literature. In her story, a ten-year-old son of a medieval knight becomes ill and crippled. He is separated from his parents by a cruel enemy army and cared for by a friar named Brother Luke. He is ashamed and disappointed by his legs as others give him the nickname “Robin Crookedshanks.” He feels destined to a life of shame with no chance to show courage or do glorious deeds. But the friar takes him to his monastery, teaches him to read and swim and carve, and teaches him to pray for the faith that a fine and beautiful life still lies before him, “Always remember,” the friar tells the boy, “[you have] only to follow the wall far enough, and there will be a door in it.”
At the end of the story, Robin’s disability leads to his opportunity. His crooked legs cause the enemy to underestimate him. The resilient spirit he has developed in response to his challenges keeps him going. He alone finds the door in the enemy’s fortress wall. Against all odds, he becomes the rescuer who can steal unsuspected through enemy lines and save the people he loves. It is his faith in the old friar's words that keeps him going.
H. G Wells wrote the other story, the same H. G. Wells who wrote The War of the Worlds. In Wells' story, the promise of the door in the wall is a cruel hoax. A man is haunted all his life by the memory of a door that leads to an enchanted garden that contains all he ever longed for. He searches in vain for that door his whole life. At the end of the story his dead body is found—fallen in a construction site behind a wall with a door that looks exactly like the one he has been seeking (John Ortberg, All the Places You'll Go. Except When You Don't, pgs. 231-232, Tyndale, 2015; www.PreachingToday.com)
God’s promise of your inheritance is no cruel hoax. It is a sure and certain hope that will strengthen you through the losses you experience in this life.
So, look forward to that day. It will help you get through today. For it is not the way you deal with your loss that is the basis for hope, no! Hope is the basis for how you deal with your loss. The assurance of your glorious future keeps you going.
Priest and author, Henri Nouwen once said, “I have a friend who radiates joy, not because his life is easy, but because he habitually recognizes God's presence in the midst of all human suffering, his own as well as others'… My friend's joy is contagious. The more I am with him, the more I catch glimpses of the sun shining through the clouds. Yes, I know there is a sun, even though the skies are covered with clouds. While my friend always spoke about the sun, I kept speaking about the clouds, until one day I realized that it was the sun that allowed me to see the clouds (Henri J. Nouwen, “Here and Now: Living in the Spirit” Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 13; www.PreachingToday.com).
The assurance of the sun beyond the clouds helps you radiate joy even when you suffer.
So, in these desperate times, swim in the river of life, diving deep into God’s Spirit. Then look forward to the day when you will share in the inheritance God has promised to you.
An anonymous poet put it this way:
In the heart of London City,
'Mid the dwellings of the poor,
These bright, golden words were uttered,
“I have Christ! What want I more?”
Spoken by a lonely woman,
Dying on a garret floor,
Having not one earthly comfort—
“I have Christ! What want I more?”
(Anonymous, quoted by Norman Vincent Peale in “My Favorite Quotations,” Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 15; www.PreachingToday.com).
Dear friend, when you have Christ, you have all you need. You have His Spirit and you have the sure and certain hope of that riverfront property in His Kingdom.
