Rivers of Renewal: Our Collective Hope and Vision | Jeremiah Lepasana | "The River's Promise" - Ezekiel 47.1-12

This past Sunday we continued our vision series, Rivers of Renewal, in Ezekiel 47 by speaking about the River's Promise. We saw that the river contains 1) a promise of radical reversal, 2) a life-producing power, 3) and an "active" invitation. First, the river contains a promise of radical reversal. The river in Ezekiel 47 calls back to the Garden of Eden, declaring a vision of the world as it should be. In addition, at the very end of Scripture in Revelation 22, we see another river, which shows us that this river in Ezekiel 47 alludes to not only the world as it should be, but also as the world as it will be.  This passage promises that there will come a radical transformation that will mean a reversal of the brokenness of our present world. And, this promise, is a uniquely Biblical hope, because we believe in qualitative breaks in time--Creation, Fall, Redemption--which allow us to say that the evil and suffering of the present world is not normal; it is the aberration. Second, we see that the River contains a life-producing power with two key implications. First, God's presence and love makes lovely. This runs counter to a modern world where love is given to only what one finds already lovely. And this creates a world of pretenders. Yet, the river runs through unfaithful and unworthy people, creating life and beauty even amid their weaknesses and inadequacies. Second, the river of God's presence is able to bring life to the most desolate and barren of environments and conditions. Therefore, you are not ultimately your environment. His grace breaks through all limiting factors. Third, we flipped to John 21 to see Peter recognize that this Ezekiel 47 vision has now arrived in Jesus. And, the only proper response is to go all-in and "swim" to and surrender to Him.