Pastor John's Sabbatical: Experiencing God on the Passaic River

This past Thursday night we did another "Experiencing God on the Passaic River". We had a wonderful group of folks, some new and some returning a second time. It was so hot that we got off the beach in Elmwood Park as quick as we could to find some shade. It must have been 90 degrees even in the shade. We kept everyone hydrated and it got cooler as the sun went down.

Colin in their new/old family canoe

We stopped on "Rick's Island" (named after River Man Rick Rodriguez) and I did our faith lesson for the evening. The Bible begins in a garden between two rivers (Genesis 1&2) and ends in a city with a river flowing out of it (Revelation 22). What does that mean. Listen to the text.

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

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.

No longer will there be any curse.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

There will be no more night. they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for every and ever."

This is a beautiful picture of Eden restored. Paterson is also the city of God because God is in the midst of it also. This future reality reaches back in time to the present where through the finished work of Jesus Christ we get a glimpse of such restoration. Our night on the river gives us a glimpse of that and encourages us to face the present. We see a picture of God's Kingdom come and will being done here on earth - in Paterson - as it is in heaven.