November 14, 2004

THE WATER OF LIFE

"Let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17, NKJV).

In the epilogue of the Apocalypse, John paints a parting portrait of his all-sufficient Lord and Saviour. He portrays Him by the familiar metaphor of the water of life.

This is the final, universal offer of salvation. No one is excluded from this invitation. It is the sunset call to salvation and peace with God. All who desire to inherit eternal life with its attendant joys and blessings are invited to come and take freely of the water of salvation. The aged prophet dares not close the Apocalypse without a final appeal to accept Christ, the living water. The only precondition to the invitation is thirst. The water is free and life-giving for all who are thirsty.

To be lost is an inexcusable act of blatant rejection of the gracious offer of free salvation. The appeal of the gospel is always, Come just as you are. Come without money. All the sinner needs is a thirsty soul. Come to the waters! (see Isaiah 55:1-3). The Alpha and the Omega Himself pledges, "I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts" (Revelation 21:6, NKJV).

As the final curtain falls, the Holy Spirit, joined by the bride and those who hear the invitation, say "Come! Stoop down and drink and live forever!" Now is the time to come. Christ, the life-giving water, is free and fully available. "Christ presents to us who are athirst the water of life, that we may drink freely; when we do this we have Christ within us as a well of water springing up into everlasting life."--God's Amazing Grace, p. 305.

My Prayer Today: Lord, I come just as I am. Quench, I pray, the thirsting of my soul through Christ, the water of life. Amen.