Life in the Water

Life in the Water
GO DEEP!
Terry R. Baughman

“Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live” (Ezekiel 47:9 NIV).

Jesus often taught in parables, especially when those who opposed Him lurked about just waiting to catch Him in His words, or snare Him by some trickery in the questions they posed. When Jesus told stories and related the parable to real-life situations, those who believed in Him, understood His implications, while others were left with more questions. When the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables, He said, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them” (Matthew 13:11 NIV).

In the final parable in Matthew 13, concerning the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus used the example of fishermen throwing out a large net, which they drew up through the water resulting in a huge catch of fish. All were kept in the net and taken to the shore where they were sorted, the good were separated from those who were not good for food, or too small, or some other water species. 

It was apparent the story of the dragnet was about more than a successful fishing trip. This was an illustration of what it was like in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus had called the disciples from the beginning to become, “fishers of men!” When Jesus came to find Peter and Andrew, “They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.” Then, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matthew 4:18-19 NIV). They immediately abandoned their nets and followed Him.

The contents of the net produced “all kinds” according to the biblical text. Interestingly, it didn’t say “all kinds of fish,” and even the Greek word used for kinds is also used for tribes or nationalities. These fish were an allegory of the end-time ingathering of all races and ethnicities of people brought into the Kingdom of God. We are taught to bring in all kinds and let God do the sorting at the final judgment. Only God knows the heart and identifies those who have truly chosen to follow Him. 

Habakkuk, the prophet, used the same imagery, of fish representing human beings. He asked God, “Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?” (Habakkuk 1:14 NKJ). So, it is not a stretch to see the abundance of fish in the waters of Ezekiel to be synonymous with the incredible harvest of souls anticipated in the final days of this dispensation. 

The river of living water that began in the Temple and flowed to the Jordan, and down to the sea contained, “Swarms of living creatures.” The prophet recognized that, “creatures will live wherever the river flows.” Because of the healing, life-giving properties of water, an abundance of life results. The fruitfulness of final harvest will far exceed our wildest imagination. All who are touched by the Spirit, all who come to the waters for cleansing through the powerful name of Jesus, will find life! 

Where the river flows there will be new life. Jesus promised that, “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47 NKJ). Where the Gospel is preached, repentance is embraced, and baptism is practiced, the power of the Spirit brings everlasting life. Jesus spoke of the Spirit when He said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38 NKJ).

The waters of baptism and the river of the Spirit bring life to the barren and lifeless soul. Where God is, resurrections take place, the rejected are restored, and healing comes to the hopeless. There is healing in this water. Step in and experience the refreshing of restoration!

Ezekiel said, “There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live” (Ezekiel 47:9 NIV). There is life in the water and all who come into its flow will live!
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Theme passage:
“Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life” (Ephesians 3:17 TPT).