Borrowed Breath

Ezekiel 47:1-9 is a wonderful illustration of the river of life coming out of the sanctuary of God, giving life to all it touches. 

Then he [the messenger of God] brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.

Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.   Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.

And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”  Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

As I was reading it, I got the sense of the Lord leading Ezekiel (and me) into deeper levels of faith and trust and abandon.  Only when I truly let go of everything–my identity, my gifts, my pride, my everything–only then can I know what it means to live, to truly live.  So I picked up my pen and attempted (and failed) to put into words what the Lord was showing me.   

Flowing out of the sanctuary,
the Lord showed me a little stream,
a life-giving tributary,
its banks, lush and green.
He led me into its flow,
the water splashed around my ankles.
He bid me farther and deeper go,
away from its secure banks.
The stream climbed to my knees,
and eagerly I followed,
excited to be set free,
from the limited shallows.
As the water reached my waist,
I struggled for a foothold.
I felt His hand of grace
guiding my desperate soul.
Deeper still I followed Him,
the river came up to my neck.
As the water reached my chin,
the land became a speck.
He saw the fear in my eyes,
my unbelief was showing.
Then to my great surprise,
He said, “Son, we must keep going.”
“Lord,” I said, “It’s much too deep,
I cannot touch the ground!”
He smiled and said, “You’re with me,
I will not let you drown.”
So I took a step and went under,
the river of life engulfed me.
Then to my amazement and wonder,
I found that I could breathe.
His life and breath filled my soul,
His presence swept into my lungs.
When I surrendered to His control,
I drowned and swam in His great love. 

.

So let go, friend.  Step out in faith where our Lord is taking you, knowing that He’s already been there and will be with you as you step out.