As we come to our last week in the worship series the series of creation;
We have seen how God has given us the wonderful creation we live as a gift.
A gift to not only to enjoy and benefit from but also to care for and serve.
At times his creation is full of life and at times deserted and dieing, representing our lives..
And today’s focus the river highlights how God is constantly at work creating a new creation.
Rivers are essential for life.
Before large trucks they were essential for transporting large amounts of goods and people, so the country could develop and prosper.
They have provided and continue to provide water for drinking, cleaning and primary production.
In Australia recently there has been much talk in saving the Murray Darling river system.
Governments are investing millions of dollars to save the river system because so many people in Australia rely on it to live.
Not only this but many animals call the Murray Darling home.
The river system is home to 367 species of birds, 85 species of mammals, 53 species of frogs, 46 species of snakes, 5 tortoises and 34 species of fish.
And some of these are on the endangered list.
More people and animals most likely rely on it than you think.
If you have ever eaten an orange,
drank some wine,
ate some rice
or worn some Australian wool or cotton then it is highly likely that
you have benefited from the waters of the Murray Darling system.
Many people benefit from its waters.
And that is why governments, farmers and communities are spending so much energy in addressing its problems.
And for the Murray Darling to continue to be an important source for life
not only does it require resources and energy,
but also a change of attitudes and behaviour
with people thinking always of others.
And like the communities and animals around the Murray Darling system we also rely on a river for life.
Our reading from Revelations calls it the River of life.
And this river of life comes not from the ground but from God.
I would like you to ask yourself today are you tapping into God’s River of life?
Are you taking every opportunity to worship?
Are you allowing God to guide you in all aspects of your life?
Are you accepting his forgiveness and sharing his forgiveness?
Are you living his perspective of life of love, forgiveness and building each other up?
These are important questions for each of us.
Sometimes we maybe able to say yes, and sometimes no.
It is important that we constantly tap into God’s river of life,
because it is the only thing that is guaranteed to give us life.
And our reading from Revelations chapter 22
reminds us what is so good about God’s river of life.
Why God’s river of life is so important
For a start it gives life.
The amazing thing is that God is always at work creating a new life for us.
He never stops creating.
Some people have in their mind that our new life will only begin in heaven.
The reality is that in heaven we will clearly see and experience our new lives.
Our new lives will be complete.
However God has already begun creating something new for you.
And we get to experience his new creation as we live.
Think about this, at your baptism God unlocked the door to a new family for you.
Every time someone is baptised God has created a new situation for them.
And every time he speaks and we take notice,
we are experiencing and living this new life.
And he will often use us to be part of his creating.
For instance when we spend time with people,
caring for them, sharing that God gives life
and sharing his approach to life with them,
God is creating something new.
And when we forgive others God is at work creating something new in us
and in our relationships.
And when God is creating something new, he is giving life.
One of our problems is we don’t always want to accept his new life.
At times we would rather not even try to forgive.
And we may think there are better ways to approach life than what God offers.
Because on the surface some of the alternatives appear to give us instant benefits.
However Proverbs 16, verse 25 warns us about such things.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
So in reality choosing anything but God’s life, is actually choosing death.
Are drinking from God’s river of life?
Are you gaining what is needed for life for eternity, God’s word?
Another aspect of God’s River of Life that Revelation 22 informs us about is that God’s life brings healing.
In Revelation 21:4 we are told that ultimately there will be no pain or death.
In today’s reading we are told there will be no curse.
Are you looking forward to that?
In heaven we will experience complete healing.
But God’s river of life also begins to have an affect on us now.
God is at work healing us now.
And it particular He is at work bringing healing to our relationships.
Listen to verses 1 and 2
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Whenever God talks about nations he is talking about people,
In particular people who see themselves as different from each other.
Now imagine every bad relationship, every disagreement, every family issue or problem between countries.
Now imagine them being healed.
It is a big task?
Some would say impossible task.
Something only God and his perspective to life can completely achieve.
Healing problems between people requires one thing, God.
and for those people to be truly influenced by God.
And when we are truly influenced by God
forgiveness is our number one priority.
And God is calling each one of us to be open to this healing now.
God is constantly forgiving you.
And God is there wanting to help you forgive others.
If you struggle to either accept God’s forgiveness
or struggle to forgive anyone who has been part of your life
then can I encourage you to tap into God’s river of life.
To listen to God.
To allow Him to speak to your heart, mind and soul.
I encourage you to spend time with him in prayer, bible reading and fellowship with other Christians.
And allow him to heal you.
Now expect it to take time.
Healing often takes time.
My father recently had an operation.
The day after the operation I rang him, and he was the grumpiest I had ever heard him.
He wanted to be up and out of the bed straight away.
However he needs physio.
He needs time for the wounds to heal.
At times healing is painful,
And spiritual healing involving forgiveness is often painful.
But God will heal you and your relationships when you allow his perspective of life to be the priority.
And as he does he will be with you throughout the healing.
To demonstrate how forgiveness brings healing I invite you to listen to the following story.
In 1997 Katy Hutchison’s husband was beaten to death after he went next door to ask some people to leave a party.
No one owned up to hitting him.
For four years the police did not have enough evidence to charge anyone.
In fact everyone at the party and in the street kept quiet.
Her husband’s death and the silence resulted in Kay leaving the community.
She felt betrayed and bitter not only to those who committed the crime but also to those who kept quiet about it.
However in 2001 all that changed.
Ryan Aldridge confessed to killing her husband.
The four years of silence had resulted in him being deeply depressed, suicidal, extremely introverted, angry and even more violent.
He says he was slowly dieing inside.
Eventually he confessed and apologised to Katy and her family.
But he did not expect her forgiveness.
However Katy and her children did forgive him and told him so.
Why?
Because she says, “forgiveness gave her, her children and Ryan the opportunity to create a new and hopeful beginning, by not being dominated by bitterness and hatred.”
And Ryan he says, “Katy’s forgiveness is the most incredible thing that anyone has ever given me. It changed my life. There’s trouble every day in prison, offers of drugs and threats of fights, but I don’t give in. My life would still be full of anger and violence if it wasn’t for Katy.’
I invite you to tap into God’s river of life,
which delivers forgiveness and healing to you and others.
Let God help you receive forgiveness
and let God help you share forgiveness
so you can have the real life he is creating for you.
Amen
