I moved closer to the riverbank and noted that the shore was now made up of smooth pebbles and that I was barefoot. I stood and watched as the water rushed by. The sound of the river alone was deafening, as its current was strong enough to carve a chasm or canyon in only a matter of days. However, I saw no evidence of any such erosion. Even in its few still spots, I saw no sediment, just more of the same smooth pebbles on the riverbank.
Closer to the center of the river, jutted huge, coarse boulders. The water raged and pounded against them forming a spray that hazed the sky overhead. The spray was cool to the skin, and I noticed my arms producing the telltale sign of goosebumps.
Oh, how I wanted to commandeer a raft or kayak down this river! But, I knew that as surely as I would try, any such vessel would most certainly overturn and I would be swept away in the deadly current.
"Jump in," said a calm, still voice.
I turned and saw a kind, bearded man walking towards me.
My spirit instantly told me this was my Lord. His eyes bore the agape love and sincerity that only the Master could convey.
Again he repeated, "Jump in."
I laughed and said, "You can't be serious! That river could kill me!"
Jesus smiled, and said, "I know."
I quietly stood there, hoping to understand why He was suggesting such and act. He saw the fear written on my face and smiled even more broadly. I grew more frustrated at His huge grin and my expression made this clear.
"Do you know what this river is?" He asked.
"No," I said, still shaking my head.
"This," He held out His hand, pointing at the river, "is the River of Life."
I began to understand what He was saying, but said nothing. His hand moved back, waving to the source of the river. Rather than a small creek or a collection of streams to form a river, the source was out of a city of gold walls and impressive beauty. The gate from which the river flowed was carved out of solid pearl and rushed from within the city.
"This river flows from the heart of the kingdom of God and out into the wilderness," He continued as His hand followed the path of the river. Even as the river passed out of my sight, His hand continued to point in the general path of this majestic river.
"The river flows with the glory of God and takes all who are willing to their destiny," He declared as His hand once again pointed to the path of the river and it came back into view and then back into another gate in the magnificent city of gold.
I began to understand what he was saying and asked, "what if a person wanted to just follow the river?"
"He could," the Master said patiently, "However, to enter into the kingdom, he must eventually jump in." Then He smiled with a sense of pure joy. "Following the river to the Kingdom is a calling on all, however, to enter the Kingdom, one must submit to the current." He spoke clearly and distinctly. No word entered my head without an impact, and I began to fully understand His words.
"You see, My child, My love is for all to see, but only those who are willing to give Me everything can truly experience the glory of God. You could stand here and allow the water to touch your skin with just a taste." He knelt and reached into the river in one of its more powerful areas and pulled out His hand. I saw with amazement that His strength did not waiver as the water rushed by His hand. As He withdrew His hand he looked at me once more.
"Now, my child, do you want to follow the river and get a taste every once in a while," He asked as He smacked the water, splashing it onto my face. I nearly fell backwards from the power behind it. Oh, how wonderful it was!
"Or, do you want to swim in the river, taking you to your destiny and the Perfect Will of the Father?" He motioned out into the middle of the river and suddenly a school of trout emerged, leaping and swimming with the current. These were the largest and most beautiful trout I had ever seen and had been painted with a rainbow of colors I could have only imagined before.
He continued, "Those who choose to submerge themselves in Living Water reach their destinies by allowing Me to cleanse them and change them. One could follow the river along side, but the path is hazardous. Thorns and darkness abound and only in some areas will peace prevail. They then return to the riverbank and allow the spray to give them what they need, only to return to the path once more.
"In the river swim those who are changed forever according to My Perfect Will and only those who are willing to allow Me to change them will submit to such a change. "Their flesh will be ripped away, to be replaced by My Word and My Spirit. Such a transformation can only take place by a person willing to be re-born." "He may decide not to be changed as quickly as I would choose. He may want to hold onto his flesh. But, that man who has entered the river will be thrown and tossed over the rock, My Word and that rock will surely be deadly to his flesh. "Even as such a man may lose his life by submitting to the Water, He shall gain it, and be changed forever. He will reach his destiny and the glory of God. Hear these words."
He pointed again to the city of gold. I stood in awe of its beauty and could see the spires of the mansions inside. They scraped the sky above and gleamed with beauty. I looked again at the river and the trout that swam in it.
"But know this," He continued. "If a man were to leave the river..." He didn't even need to finish the sentence, as a trout jumped out of the river and landed on the bank. The momentum by the current had thrown the trout deep into the wilderness. It was beaten and bloodied as it changed back to its original human form. Naked and hungry, this man scraped back to his feet and began to try to get back to the river.
"Such an act would be as harmful to him spiritually as the river is to his flesh. The journey that was once an aggressive progression toward destiny, becomes the treacherous wandering in the wilderness. Seek My Word always."
I began to weep as I watched this man scrape himself together and try to cover his nakedness. He moved out of sight as he tried to find the river once again. I continued to stand there and grew more curious about its power. Its spray coated my face, and I could feel the power behind it. Finally, I understood that He has a destiny for me, and for all who choose His path. It is a destiny that does not come without price, as we must allow Him to wash away our sin. We must allow Him to wash away our flesh. We must crucify our flesh daily as we continue to swim in the current of the rushing water of the River of Life.
But, first--before anything--we must make that first step.
"Jump in."
-By David W. Shelton
© 1997 mcpumpkin@geocities.com
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