Water.
Israel knew something about the importance of water. Water was necessary for life. Ezekiel’s vision reveals the life giving water that will flow from the temple. The water starts as a trickle and then becomes a massive river too deep and wide to cross. All along the banks of the river fruit trees grew with great abundance. Amazingly the water changed the Dead Sea, a place where life did not exist, into a place where life flourished. God has used the image of water to describe one’s relationship with Him (Psalm 1). Jesus uses the image of water to describe the life that comes from being in relationship with him (John 4 and 7). In Revelation 21 and 22, the image of life giving water is used to depict the beauty of the relationship with God and the Lamb, Jesus. For Ezekiel, water was necessary for life. One never got too far away from water. We are encouraged to drink freely and deeply of the water of life. Like Israel of old, we must stay close to water. Water sustains and gives life. Jesus says (John 7:38-39) that when we drink this water the Spirit comes to us and lives within us and flows from us. Drink deeply.