A Life that is Evergreen and Fruitful
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 (Ezek. 47:12 KJV)
Ezekiel saw a vision of the river of God with trees on both sides whose leaves do not fade and they bear fruit every single month. The same verse above gives us the secret to the extraordinary life of these trees—they are planted by the banks of the river and their waters issued from the Sanctuary. What an amazing figure of the life of the believer!
Early in my Christian life, I had learned from older Christians that the Christian life is supposed to have its “highs and lows.” I was told you will be full of God sometimes and empty at other times. Sadly, this is the thinking of the average believer because of the experiences of many Christians. However, the scripture has a different take on it. God’s design for your life in Christ is for you always to be green as a green tree and fruitful. You can be personally revived and full of God every single day. But there is a secret to this life given to us with the words “by the river”. This, in brief, describes intimate practical fellowship with God through the Spirit by the Word. I encounter believers who are as dry as a dry tree in the Sahara desert and they wonder why Christianity is so difficult only to dig into their lives and you find out they are practically planted far away from God. They feed the Word when they have the time, and pray only when circumstances allow. It will not work this way.
An evergreen and fruitful life is God’s design for you, but there is a price for it. It is not a one billion seed or tithe. It is cultivating intimacy with the Spirit through the Word and fellowship in prayer. There is no shortcut to a thriving Christian life. There is nothing on earth that comes close to living by the River of God and it is worth every effort. Go for it!
MEDITATE
Take a look at your Christian life and see if you are like a withered tree or a green and fruitful tree.
APPLY THE WORD
We will have challenges as Christians but that is not the same thing as being dry, empty and defeated. I often say this, and some think I am exaggerating, that the most important thing in your life is your fellowship with God in the Word and prayer, and you need in on a daily basis. Take steps to plant yourself practically by the river( Ps. 1:1-3).
PRAY
Ask the Lord to help you build an enjoyable relationship with Him.
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