The River That Flows Forever

The book of Ezekiel ends with a vision of a temple that is profound and mysterious, situated in a city with the name “The Lord Is There.” The radiant glory of God enters the visionary temple from the eastern gate and fills the temple as God takes up His residence there forever (Ezek. 43:4–5). Through the same eastern gate where God entered, in flows a river of water. Ezekiel’s angelic guide began to measure the depth of that river. Amazingly, the farther on he went, the deeper the river became: from ankle-deep, to knee-deep, to waist-deep, to a depth over anyone’s head, a river that could not be crossed (47:1–5). On either side of that beautiful river were trees with abundant fruit that never failed, whose leaves never withered. Food and healing came forever from those trees (v. 12).

Centuries later, the Apostle John had a similar vision of the new Jerusalem, only this time there was no temple at all in the city, for the eternal temple is God Almighty Himself and the Lamb of God (Rev. 21:22). As in Ezekiel’s vision, this city has a river called “the river of the water of life” (22:1) that flows directly from the throne of God. The Tree of Life is rooted on both sides of this river, with leaves for the healing of the nations and with limitless food.

Before we get to that city, God has graciously bestowed early access to the river through the gift of the indwelling Spirit. Jesus called out:

“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.’” (John 7:37–38)

Jesus was speaking of the future gift of the Holy Spirit, whom He would pour out on all His people after His glorious death, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus had said earlier to the Samaritan woman at the well:

“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (4:14)

Faith in Jesus satisfies our own longing for life and joy, not just once but again and again. Yet that fountain is not only to satisfy ourselves; from our hearts will flow the life that the Spirit alone can give to people around us through the Word of Christ.

This is only a foretaste. In heaven, this same river will flow directly from the throne of God into all the redeemed with ever- increasing blessing. For we will never come to an end of needing God to sustain our lives or an end of new glories of God to delight our souls. This river of life flows forever and gets deeper as it goes on. Drink deeply of that river today. Give it to others around you to satisfy them. And look forward to an infinitely more satisfying drink for all eternity.