Salvation Surely Flows

Read Zechariah 14
 
Zechariah 14:3-4, 7-9 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south….7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime – a day known to the Lord. When evening comes, there will be light. 8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.
 
THIS final chapter follows the common pattern of God’s final victory over sin. It begins with two very difficult verses of God’s judgment on Jerusalem. But then God graciously directs us to his salvation. This is sin’s severity and salvation’s beauty.
   Indeed, what wondrous images we have of God’s triumph for our souls. First is the powerful image of Jesus standing on Olivet to declare his kingship. This is likely the place from where he ascended. This is Jesus proclaiming, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)
   Water, from first to last, is God’s image and source of life. Water covers the earth in the first creation. Living Water runs through the new creation. John records Jesus declared this would be so: John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  Salvation is the flowing water to the nations.
   Third is God’s eternal light coming out of the darkness to cover his city. Light was the revelation of God’s presence in the new earth: Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  
    How surely and plainly the gospel’s life message moves throughout the earth. The truth of God comes through the law, the prophets, the gospels and the epistles. Prophet to prophet, testament to testament, apostle (messenger) to apostle the Holy Spirit moves life to the human mind. How is it possible the gospel can be so distorted or ignored?
   Are you thirsty, perhaps feeling your faith is dry? Drink of God to fill your soul. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. Might there be something that darkens your view of God? Then be assured: The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1)