There are many people in Idaho Falls who are caught up with temporal bigness and outward success. It’s tempting. People naturally flow to that which gathers a lot of other people. Security in numbers. Assurance with affluence. Might to maintain right. But over and over in the Bible, we are warned of the dangers of not taking shelter in what we build with our own hands. We are exhorted to flee from the insidious viper that lies within us all – pride. The most luxuriant trees in Idaho Falls because of a lack of humility can and will be cut down. Consider the sober reality of the watered tree in Ezekiel 31. My encouragement to you is this: Flee from the massive tree that does not utterly depend on God. I don’t care how beautiful it looks on the outside. It is only a matter of time before the whole super structure comes toppling down.
Bad Tree / Good Tree
Secondly, there are people in Idaho Falls who look upon their past as Job did in chapter 29 – “My root is spread out to the waters.” At one time in their lives, they were happy. They had experienced the blessing of God. They had influence in the city and in ministry. But then bad things happened to them. Circumstances went horribly wrong. Awful suffering. And now they are hurting. They feel abandoned and stuck. So I would like to say that if you feel like you are in this category, consider this: Find a brother or sister in town who will not lecture or accuse you but instead will weep with you. And even when you don’t feel God’s nearness, trust that He is there with you. In you. You might lose everything in your present life, but He will never forsake you. And with your roots in the living water, you will flourish again through God’s unfailing love.
Thirdly, there is a group of people in Idaho Falls – a very, small minority who are tapped into the spiritual realities of Jeremiah 17:7-8. As an ESV Study Bible note suggests, these are the people who are “settled with resources no matter what happens”. Through the fires of life, Jeremiah had arrived at this state. And this is where God would have us all cross over as we fervently spread out our roots by the river in this city.
There is much to meditate and pray over as you walk with family and friends along the Idaho Falls greenbelt.
Let all come to the water.
Providence Downtown - Roots by the River 