Lesson In Faith

Sep. 15, 2015

Ezekiel 47: 3... And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4...Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waterswere to the loins. 5... Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

Go to any beach and you will see mother's and father's with their baby's playing in the sand, having a great time. Mother's take the baby to the water so they can splash their little feet in it. Baby's are amazed at this water because it is something new to them. Yes, they do get their bath's in water but something as vast as a lake, river or ocean is quite different.

Mother's are aware that they dare not take the baby too deep because the objective is to get them used to the water. For the person just learning to swim, it is the same. That lake, river or ocean is so huge they are not going into the deepest parts until they become confident they can hadle it, so they (just like the baby) begin in the shallows...water at the ankles.  

Getting to know God and having faith in Him is the same as mother's with their baby's and the person learning how to swim in shallow waters... at the ankles. I can see you with this puzzled look on your face saying, I get the baby in shallow waters because the mother is their with the baby protecting that child but someone older? Spiritually the ankle deep water is the person learning about God, becoming aware of Him. Just as the mother protects her baby, God is protecting that person learning about Him.

Remember the song we all learned as a child...The B I B L E yes thay's the book for me...I stand alone on the Word of God...The B I B L E.  Another song was Jesus Loves me this I know, for the Bible tell's me so...Little one to Him belong...they are weak but He is strong. Yes Jusus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so. To the person just becoming aware of God, looking at the sun, tree's, the beauty of the blue sky, the amazement of snow on a mountain peak at 20 degrees and 80 degree temperatures at the bottom of that mountain and the change of seasons helps them to underdstand something or somebody created this. That awareness is water at the ankles.

Verse 4 progresses to waters at the knees. Mothers with their baby's allow them to swim or so the baby thinks. In reality, the mother has her hands underneath that baby but he or she is swimming, having the time of their life. The person learing to swim is developing more confidence as well because even though the water level is higher they are in control or so they think. Here is a sobering fact, during a flood we are warned against driving our vehicles into high water because 1 feet of water can cause a vehilce and the person driving it to lose control.

Spiritually, God had His hands underneath that person learning to swim in water at their knees all the time. Their knowledge of God has grown. God made the Grand Canyon, God spoke creation into existence, God controls everything and their faith in God has grown. They have even learned another song...This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it..this is the day that the Lord has made. Another song would be...This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine let it shine, let it shine.

Verse 4 progresses to waters at the loins. Mother's are much more protective of her baby. The current could sweep that baby from out of her arms so she now holds the baby as they get into deeper water. The person learning to swim can now actually swim in this water. Their safety net of course is being able to stand up if they lose their confidence but their potential danger is things in the water they can't see. Sharks...Jaws could be waiting to devour them. 

Spiritually, trusting God and having faith in Him is becoming a way of life because you have finally realized God has been with you all along. Your faith now knows God got you the job or the promotion or the apartment. You have even told people about how God did this for you, how He did that for you. He was the one with you during the test at the doctor's office or saved your lost son or daughter or mate. Their songs now are...Father I stretch my hand to theee, no other help I know...if thou withdraw thy hand from my, whether shall I go. Another one would be I've Learned to Lean on Jesus, Learned to trust in the Lord. The waters at the loins.

Verse 5 now has the waters everywhere, waters to swim in. The mother's baby has learned to swim on their own and the mother has given that baby to the Lord to watch over. The person has learned to swim... now doing back strokes and swimming under water.

Spiritually, that person now realizes you walk by faith...not by sight. God has taken them though the twists and turns of life but thay have never lost their faith in Him. They now believe God no matter what they face and are willing to let the waters that are everywhere and deep enough to swim in, take them where ever God wants them to go. Now they have a "YES LORD" in their Spirit...Yes to your will...yes to your way...

Their song now is... Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me...I once was lost but now I'm found...was blind but now I see. Another song would be... Have you any rivers, that seem uncrossable, have you any mountains that you can't tunnel through...GOD Specializes in things impossible...and He will do what no other POWER can do.