When I lived in Tyler, I got a call with an unusual request from the man on the other end of the line. He wanted me to pray at the State Water Convention. Well, I had never prayed at a Water Convention before. Evidently, it was a pretty big deal and sure enough it was. When I got to Harvey Convention Center, it was filled with people. I wasn’t quite sure what to pray for at a Water Convention. I mean, you know when you’re asked to pray at a football game, that’s easy. You just pray for your team to win! I’m kidding.
Anyway, this made me think about all of the things that we use water for. It gives and sustains life. All of creation is dependent upon it. Without it, we die. It keeps things clean, cleanses wounds, provides electricity. Cities have often been built by waterways throughout the ages, because it can give life to the people. It is a means of transportation. It has power! The power of water can smooth stones. There’s a calming effect from water. Many of us on vacations go to lakes, rivers or oceans and enjoy them. There’s something calming about them. I know I love to go to the ocean and just watch the vastness of it. Just to know that the God who created this entire universe, created this seemingly endless ocean! There’s power in it!
There can also be a destructive nature in water. When there are hurricanes or floods or the pipes burst at home because they’re too cold, too old or faulty and create a flood, there are problems. If water sets for a while, it can become stale and breeds mold and mildew and can become quite nasty. A problem we have with a lot of our waterways today is that they are polluted.
In addition to these elements of water, there is a lot of religious significance to water. Again and again, the scriptures make reference to water. When the earth is flooded during the time of Noah, God brings forth life from Noah and his family. They begin again with a new covenant and the rainbow to seal it. The Syrian military leader Naaman is healed of his leprosy in the River Jordan. The Israelites as they are seeking deliverance from the slavery in Egypt prepare to cross the Red Sea. Close behind them is the Egyptian army. The Sea is parted. They go across dry land and they receive deliverance because of the Red Sea. There are the waters of baptism. Through the waters of baptism, we receive the cleansing of sin and we become new creations in Christ. We are claimed as children of God. When I was in Israel, we went to the Dead Sea. I always thought that the Dead Sea would be kind of ugly. With the name "Dead Sea," I just anticipated that. It wasn’t. I was suprised. It was a beautiful blue and green. While I was there, I learned that people all over the world go there to bathe in the waters because it is believed to have medicinal qualities. People with skin problems go there for weeks at a time from Europe. There are all kinds of skin products, like lotions and facial cremes, made from the salts of the Dead Sea. I bought some Ahava products while I was there and they really work! Even though I don’t know of references to the Dead Sea’s healing qualities in the Bible, the Biblical people must have known something about the power of the Dead Sea.
In Psalm 46:4, it states, "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High."
In the book of Amos, water is compared with justice. "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream." Amos 5:24
Jesus has a conversation with the woman at the well, how he can give her living water. He says to her, "Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." John 4:14
Then, we turn to the use of water in the book of Revelation. A lot of times, people are afraid of the book of Revelation. It is not to be feared. It is a book that is meant to give us hope! It is a book that uses beautiful poetry to point us to the belief that in the end, God will be victorious. Good will win. Justice will win.
So, in chapter 22 of Revelation, it once again has some beautiful imagery for us. It speaks of the river of the water of life that flows. It is bright as crystal. It is pure and clear. It is contrasted with the polluted water that is mentioned earlier in the book of Revelation about the time of tribulation or sin.
We remember that there was a river in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. It was lost. What was lost in Eden is now regained by the Lamb of God. Now there is a river again.
You will notice that there is no mention of the ocean. To the Israelites, the ocean was a fearful place. They were not sea people. It was a sign of chaos. So the chaotic ocean is not there, rather the peaceful river.
The source of the river is the throne of God and the Lamb of God. It represents the Holy Spirit. It comes from the very throne of God!
On either side of the river are trees that produce fruit. The leaves from the trees give healing to the nations. Isn’t that powerful?! The servants of God are able to see God face to face. They are in the very presence of God. There is no more crying or tears or death or pain!
This desciption is very similar to the one in Ezekiel 47. In Ezekiel, it speaks of the river flowing from the temple of God. The river is so full that people must swim in it. People are immersed with the Spirit of God! The difference between Ezekiel and Revelation is that Revelation does not mention the temple of God, but the river flows from the very throne of God! There is no need for a temple for all of creation will be a temple, a sanctuary. All of creation will worship and adore the Lord!
The scriptures tell us that salvation is not just meant for humans, but for all of creation. Paul talks about creation groaning for adoption. Isaiah 11:6 speaks of "the wolf lying down with the lamb." The Psalms say that the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Jesus says that if the people do not cry out praise, the very stones will cry out in praise of God! All of creation points to glorifying God! The stars adore Jesus at his birth. The earth shakes when he dies, the sun loses its light. Creation is crying out! When the sun rises again, he rises. All of creation is pointing to salvation!
Isn’t it amazing that God takes common things like water and bread and grape juice and makes something uncommon out of them through the sacraments of baptism and holy communion. Common, everyday things, but God uses them to attest to salvation.
So, what does all of this mean for us today? I believe Revelation teaches us that we can experience the waters of salvation today. We don’t have to wait until we die, but we can taste of the waters today. When we place our trust in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection for us, we can experience the healing power of the river of life today!
It also tells us that we can partake of the river of life forevermore. John Wesley speaks of the gift of salvation that is only finalized after our deaths. At our deaths, then we eternally glorify God and dwell in God’s presence.
Revelation was a very important book for the early church at the time of its writing. The people are undergoing persecution because of Emperor Domitian. They are being hurt and killed because of their faith. The author of Revelation John has been exiled to the rocky island of Patmos because of his faith. It is while he is there, that he writes the book of Revelation. So he wants to give the Christians who are being persecuted encouragement and hope. You may be going through difficult times right now, but there’s going to be a better day. When you get to the other side of the problem, it will be better. If you die, it will be a better day.
I have shared with you about my friend Melba Berkheimer. She is an Assembly of God minister in Orange. We became friends when I was serving in the Beaumont District. She recently has been diagnosed with having a brain tumor all over her brain. It is unoperable. On Friday, I went to visit her to touch her and see her and minister to her. I asked her, "What did you think when the doctors told you this?" She replied, "I said, ’To God be the glory.’" I didn’t say it, but I thought to myself, I don’t think that’s what I would have thought. Then, she went on to explain. "If I am healed of this, to God be the glory! If I die, I’ll be with the Lord, to God be the glory!" What wonderful faith! What wonderful hope that we have as Christians! Today, tomorrow and forever, we can draw from the River of Life!
