The River of Life

Then the angel showed me the

river of the water of life, bright as crystal,

flowing from the throne of God and of

the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.

(from Rev. 21:10, 22—22:5)

I live in the Upper Delaware Scenic National Recreation Area.

This amazing section of the Delaware River is famous for its rafting, canoeing, and kayaking on calm water and whitewater.

The awesome, scenic sections include The Hawks Nest cliffs, and observing Bald Eagles overhead.

The river is fed by numerous magnificent waterfalls, some flowing hundreds of feet.

Usually, the waterfalls cascade peacefully and clearly into a stream flowing to the river.

After heavy rainstorms the tributaries surge gathering dirt as they head to the river.

The river becomes a muddy brown, overflowing the banks, flooding the campsites, and contains dangerous whirlpools capable of drowning a person.

This is the watershed reality of the Delaware River Scenic Recreation Area.

It can, at times, be life-taking and far from crystal clear.

The River may symbolize the watershed of our lives.

Don’t we all live in a watershed though?

John’s vision in Revelation 22:1 says there is a river of life, crystal clear, flowing from the throne of God for the healing of the nations.

As the river of life flows through our city centers doesn’t it bring hope?

It seems to me there is a hope for a New Jerusalem, a re-creation containing fruit-bearing trees of life.

As I read these verses from Revelation, I continue to hope for a future cleansed by God by God’s life-giving water of life.

Each time we witness a baptism or renew our baptism vows, it is a reminder we are included in God’s life-giving river.