THE GLORIFIED STATE Devotion 5 of 25 EZEKIEL'S VISION OF THE WATERS This is the ultimate fulfillment of Ezekiel's vision of the healing waters. The language used in this text is that of Ezekiel (Ezek 47:1-23). As Ezekiel's waters swelled, they are said to become "a RIVER that could not be passed over" (47:5). When the prophet stood on the brink of those waters, it is written he was caused to "return to the brink of the river" (47:6). There were also "very many trees on the one side and on the other" (47:7). The fruit of those marvelous trees is described in this manner. "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine" (47:12). – Tomorrow:
"Proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb."
The flow of sustaining life will come directly from the Lord, without secondary means. In this world, revelation comes through appointed means. Even the book of Revelation was given by God through Jesus, through and angel, through John (1:1). Everyone brought to faith is given a "minister," some individual through whom the knowledge of the truth came. As it is written, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord GAVE TO EVERY MAN?" (1 Cor 3:5). Those who think they can ignore these ministers and still be ready to meet the Lord have been sorely deceived.
God has also appointed the Scriptures as a means to sustain spiritual life. As it is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt 4:4). And again, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Rom 15:4). Any notion that we can adequately prepare for glory independently of the Scriptures is nothing less than an imagination, to be cast down with our spiritual weaponry.
The saints themselves are also a rich source of benefit to one another. It is through them that Jesus ministers to the various members of His body, bringing life-sustaining supplies to His people. As it is written, "the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow" (Col 2:19 NIV). The various members of the body are essential for spiritual growth. They have been placed in the body precisely where God wants them, and endued with a measure of faith that enables them to effectively minister to one another (1 Cor 12:18,22-27; Rom 12:3-6). If you are ever tempted to think you can make it to glory by ignoring kindred saints God has placed in your path, you have simply been seduced by the devil. Nothing God gives can be treated as that it was unnecessary.
Thus, in this world, we are provided access to the truth through indirect means, as well as directly between our spirits and the Holy Spirit, for "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit" (Romans 8:16). The reason for this provision can be traced to the impact of sin upon our persons. Thus, ministers of truth, the Scriptures, and the body of Christ have been given to assist us in laying hold on the truth.
This will not be the case in glory. We will have direct access to the truth, with no need for it to pass through another before it comes to us. The abundant things of God will all be within our reach, with no flesh or contaminated vessel between.
Thus John's first exposure to the blessed state of the redeemed finds them in a state of Divine abundance. What they have tasted in this world will be expanded in the world to come. They will have more of what they experienced here in Christ Jesus. The appetite created and sustained by grace through faith will be satisfied. It will all be accomplished in an intensely personal environment with no restrictions or limitation. Everything will be within reach.
The prophet Ezekiel, therefore, prepared us for this vision. It was through him that the Holy Spirit developed the vocabulary of our text. To put it another way, when John wrote, he did so in words "which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Cor 2:13 NKJV). This is the manner in which the Lord delivers truth to His people. Those who couch the Word of God in the language of the street, or in words that man's wisdom teaches, are in direct conflict with the manner of the Holy Spirit. With remarkable consistency, when the Holy Spirit reveals the things prepared for those who love the Lord, He does so in the language of the prophets.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I praise You for the prospect of direct access to You, Your truth, and the things You have prepared for those who love You.