Springs, Rivers and Oceans

The Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.

A great river of fresh water empties into the salty ocean. What is it that keeps the mouth of river fresh and uncontaminated by the salt water? The river has a source of fresh water that is separate from the ocean and the river maintains a steady flow going outward. As Christians, we can think of the ocean as the world and ourselves as the river and understand that when we feel a strong current of carnality, it is because of the affections of our heart. Our heart is the source of our river and our affections are the springs of our river. When you examine yourself, don't just look on the outward but, look closely at the springs of your heart. Are they flowing out to the world or are they receiving from the world its counterfeit satisfactions? Is our heart set in such a way that our (spiritual) source is preferred and chosen to be our only ONLY source and we are careful to keep it far away from the counterfeit, which is low, temporary, vain, dim and unable to impart any life. By the way, your careful watching and jealous guarding of your soul's only source of life is the very definition of holiness. Holiness is simple and yet vital for without it no one will see God (Heb 12:14). When you look to God and think what he offers is the rarest and the most valuable, you have fulfilled every obligation. There is no more that your heart can do.

So, follow the advise of King Solomon, the Apostle Paul and Jesus:

Pro 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Mat 6:21  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Rom 8:6  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

Now, once your affections are set on the things above, you have to act like you are pursuing life and peace above all else. First believe and then do and Jesus says you will have fulfilled ALL that is in the law and the prophets.

Mat 22:37-40  And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'  38  "This is the great and foremost commandment.  39  "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'  40  "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Gal 5:14  For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Keeping a fresh source to your river. (Pro 4:23, Mat 6:21, Col 3:2 and Rom 8:6)

Maintaining the outflow. (Matt 22:40 and Gal 5:14)