I have often heard preachers take Ezekiel 47:1-12 as their text and deliver stirring messages about the need to plunge into the River of Life. Here is the living water, flowing from the temple of God, turning the desert into a paradise, giving life to everything it touches. This is an allegory for the grace of God, flowing freely, offering abundant life to all.

I don’t recall a preacher offering thoughts on verse 11: “But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.” This is an essential part of the allegory. Someone may be attracted by the living stream of God’s grace, but afraid of getting in too deep. So he stays close to the shallows, keeping his feet wet but staying back from the deep waters. It looks like he is in the stream, but the water here is not moving with the stream, salt is accumulating here. Rather than being life-giving water, this water sucks the life out of all that it touches.

This seems to be what happens to some Christians: they come joyfully to the water and are spiritually healed, a new life begins. All goes well for awhile, then little things begin to bother them and they retreat, closer and closer to the shallows. Now they notice all the things others are doing wrong, doctrines aren’t clear anymore, their feelings are hurt, doubts increase. They think they are still in the stream, but the salt is slowly poisoning their spirit. Finally they step out of the water and proclaim themselves free.

Others plunge into the stream of grace and never look back. People in the stream are ready to help and encourage them; they grow purer in heart and stronger spiritually. Day by day they are getting closer to the end of their journey where their Saviour is waiting to welcome them home.

Beware the shallow, salty, marshes.