Come

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

John wrote these words as he concluded the book of Revelation. He wrote the vision Jesus showed him of things to come and of things that happened on earth and in heaven. It may be somewhat confusing to some because it it’s not chronological at times and at other times it is. John described the things that he saw as best as he could not knowing what they were. The words of the book state the imminency of the coming of those things. Yet it’s in God perfect and appointed time. It may seem like forever to us, but God is not bound by earth time. “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2Peter 3:8)

John states “the Spirit and the bride say.” This is not an event in heaven. This is what should be happening on earth. The Holy Spirit is on earth, in the hearts of believers, in the hearts of the church, the people. The bride is the church. On earth, the Holy Spirit and the believers, the church, the bride say, “Come.” Both the Spirit of God and the believers invite those who are yet apart from the Lord. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” (Psalms 34:8)

Are you thirsty? This is a spiritual condition of that void in your spirit man that nothing in this world and no one can satisfy except the Lord. This is the reason that men search high and low in all the corners of the world searching for pleasures that don’t fill that void. The Holy Spirit and the believers are inviting you to be satisfied with the living water that Jesus offers. This living water is for “whosoever will,” whosoever chooses, whosoever desires and wants to. This is an open invitation. Jesus gave that invitation when He was on this earth and makes it now. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” (John 7:37)

This water is freely given. Jesus is offering the gift of life. The life that is in Him. It’s a free gift. Many are afraid to take this gift because they are afraid their lives will change. And that is a fact. Their lives will change. They will exchange cursing for blessing, darkness for light, death for life, fleeting pleasure for eternal joy, confusion for peace, hopelessness for hope and bondage for freedom.

Isaiah prophesized the Lord’s offering. “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” (Isaiah 55:1-3) The second offering has been debated among the brethren, “he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat...” This speaks of the freely given life in Jesus. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26) It speaks of taking up our cross like Jesus took His cross and living a life dedicated and in obedience to Jesus. It’s a phrase that speaks of making a covenant with the Lord. It’s not bought with money, but with the surrender of your life.

Then it speaks of buying “wine and milk without money and without price.” Milk is the fundamental of believing in Jesus, salvation and baptism. Wine is the deep study of the precepts of Jesus. Simply stated, we work so hard to learn the ways of this world, the mechanics of sciences, but it doesn’t satisfy. We’re working and striving and yet we are not satisfied. It’s like eating only dessert. It doesn’t satisfy the hunger and thirst in our souls. In Isaiah, the Lord offers His covenant. It’s an eternal covenant. It hasn’t changed since the beginning of the world and will not change nor end with the end of the world.