Ezekiel had some *wild* visions.
He saw things that capture our imagination. Visions that artists have tried time and again to bring to life in paint, ink, pixels...
A particularly inspiring passage is chapter 47, in which Ezekiel is given a personal tour of the Millennium River. One that some believe was more than symbolic, but will actually flow from the new Temple of God when His Kingdom is here on earth in fullness 1. Whether it's a picture of God's future Kingdom or a symbolic representation, its impact is felt.
If you have not read it recently, forget this article entirely and go read Ezekiel 47.
Sit with it. Find Jesus in it.
That's it. Don't even come back. There is nothing I can say here that will contain the depth you'll receive by sitting with Ezekiel 47.
But since I have some thoughts, I'll share them below and hope that every reader stopped there. ^
Founder's Table Network: An Ezekiel 47 River
As our team has been seeking a clear sense of God's bigger vision for our work, Ezekiel 47 has been a repeated source of calling and clarity.
But, I believe it can paint a picture for you, too. In your work and in your ministry in the marketplace, God reveals so much about what His Kingdom is like through this beautiful word picture. And if we are called to anything during our time on earth, it is to "Seek first the Kingdom of God." Which means our businesses should be a "pre-taste of Heaven" -- as Founder David Mills likes to say.
Son of Man, exiled.
Ezekiel's life, especially as a prophet, was one of great personal sacrifice and suffering. And to contextualize this vision is important, because he was referred to as "Son of Man" 90 times and was exiled to Babylon at the time of this vision 2.
He and his family were taken out of Israel and forced to live in a land they did not know under rulership and pagan customs they did not believe.
He represented the future reality of Jesus as the Son of Man, and he represented our own broken Adamic reality.
As Christians, we are living in exile. Our culture does not match the God we serve or the Way to life and abundance. And even more, our work in the marketplace positions us in exile every day. And yet, because of Jesus, we have the opportunity to war against the values of the world, bringing the way, the truth and the life to people in our community and world.
A deep river that turns salt water into to fresh.
In Ezekiel 47, verse 3-6, he describes walking into the river. At first it was just ankle deep. But as he walks it becomes deeper and deeper until he's forced to swim in it. And it's such a wide river that it cannot be crossed. Not by anyone.
So, the first clue we get about this life-giving river is that it is requires being "all-in." We cannot wade ankle-deep in this river.
Our lives with Jesus are not "safe" or "risk-free." And as entrepreneurs (or pastors!), I think we understand that better than most. We are called to obedience. We're called to go all-in... we can't just stick our toes in to check the temperature.
Surrender and submission to His kingdom is an act of swimming in the deep end. It's an act of trust.
And in verse 7-9 we see the reward for jumping in is not mirky, salty, dead water. It's water teaming with life. It's a river that changes the very structure of the Dead Sea into a source of life.
This is life abundant! Yes and Amen.
Fishermen line the shore and find provision.
Verse 10 of Ezekiel 47 describes fishermen lining the shore and capturing fish of many kinds. This is an entire ecosystem springing to life. In addition, in verse 11, we're told the swamps and marshes around the Dead Sea with remain salty.
Salt being an important part of life, and this area being a crucial source for salt, we see that God provides for *all* the needs of His people 1.
This is the Kingdom of God flowing out of His place of worship and creating provision, food, and community wherever it goes. Fishermen cast nets that never come back empty. They find belonging and community on these shores as they work side-by-side along the river bank that their Creator made for them.
This is the Yahweh we serve. This is the Kingdom He wants us to live into. To lean into.
Limitless fruit and leaves that heal.
Verse 12 may be the most amazing yet, as Ezekiel describes trees that bear new fruit every single month with leaves that can be used for healing. It says "because the water from the sanctuary flows to them."
What a picture of being deeply connected and grounded in the presence of the Holy Spirit. What kind of water is this that causes trees to become nutrient rich year round! And for its leaves to be used for healing.
How I am inspired to create encounters that leave people feeling more whole, nourished, and healed than when they came.
What if we built businesses that were ministries that allowed people to come hungry and thirst and wounded but walk away full and hydrated and healed?
That is something worth building.
Adoption into the family of God.
Finally, this entire chapter ends with something that is truly astonishing. At a time when intermarrying with pagans was absolutely forbidden, verse 22 says "You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you... You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel."
Wild.
Ezekiel is prophesying a time when Gentiles will be grafted into the family of God. And here we are, you and I, with the Spirit of the Living God inside of us, living into this adoption.
Adoption and sonship is a deeply Biblical idea, found as a through-line in the entire Bible. Cover to cover.
This is not just something we get to experience, but the invitation exists for others to experience the loving and belonging of God's family. Our marketplace ministries can be an extension of God's family. Both literally, as we are the church wherever we go. And as we invite others to trust Jesus with their lives.
But before that, we can give people that "pre-taste of Heaven" in the way we build our culture, the way we serve our customers, the way we care for employees and vendors.
There is so much available to us. And so many ways we can bring the Kingdom of Heaven on earth right here and now.
As I wrap this up I really am re-enchanted with the vision God has for our lives, our businesses, our communities.
I think it's time to go read the passage again...
Sources:
1. Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. David C. Cook, 1984
2. Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook with the New International Version (Deluxe Edition). Zondervan, 2007