One of my favorite places to hike is along the McKenzie River by Sahalie (“Heaven”) and Koosah (“Sky”) Falls in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. The water surges with resounding power, cascading endlessly in a turquoise tumble of icy cold joy. After all, it’s glacial run-off.
On a hot summer day, I can walk beside it on a beautifully groomed trail through cool evergreen forests and smile. And the actual waterfalls? Thundering magic. The fine spray that swirls up cools my face and renews my soul as the outpouring never slows.
Water has the power to refresh and inspire us. Zechariah speaks of such. However, the words “on that day” were triggers for God’s people to think soberly of the final time when people would face God’s wrath.
The book of Revelation describes how the waters of the earth will be polluted and ruined at the end times. What a sad judgment on us for how we have treated the Lord and the world He placed into our care. However, the Lord reveals His glory when He describes the river of life He has already planned to flow out of Jerusalem to restore life to His creation. Our God both judges and redeems.
As one who loves rivers, I am delighted that God began his story in Eden with rivers and ends the story in Revelation with a river of life. However, rivers of living water mean much more to God. The water of life is Jesus, the Spirit, and the Scriptures.
Drink deeply and be renewed so that rivers of living water can flow from you.
Kim Robinson is a former schoolteacher who has taught in rural and central Oregon, Alaska, and with Mercy Ships in Africa. She currently lives in Salem, Oregon, where she is delighted to serve the Lord as a mom, grandma, writer, copy editor, and encourager of others.