DISCOURSE: 2534
INVITATION TO COME TO CHRIST
Revelation 22:17. 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.
RICH beyond expression are the blessings held forth to us in the word of life: and as free as light are the invitations given us to partake of them. Not only in the epistles to the seven Churches, and in the other parts of this prophetic book, but throughout the whole Scriptures, is every possible encouragement afforded to the sinners of mankind, to repent of sin, and to “lay hold upon the hope that is set before them” in the Gospel. And here, in the close of the inspired volume, are invitations to us reiterated from every quarter, that we may be prevailed upon to accept of mercy, ere the door of mercy be for ever closed.
Let us consider,
I. The blessings to which we are invited—
They are here designated by “the water of life.” We will notice them,
1. Generally—
[The source from whence this water flows, is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. In the very chapter before us, “the pure river of the water of life” is said to “proceed out of the throne of God and of the Lamb [Note: ver. 1.].” As in the wilderness, the water gushing from the rock that had been smitten supplied the necessities of all Israel; so the Lord Jesus Christ, when smitten with the rod of the law, poured forth the waters of salvation for the benefit of the whole world [Note: 1 Corinthians 10:4.]. He is “the fountain of living waters [Note: Jeremiah 2:13.];” and whosoever cometh to him, may drink and live for ever. In the chapter before our text, the Lord Jesus Christ declared this to the Apostle John: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely [Note: Revelation 21:6.].” In the days of his flesh, he spoke repeatedly to this effect. To the Samaritan woman, of whom he had asked a draught of water, he said, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water [Note: John 4:10.].” On another occasion, when the people had, according to custom, drawn water from the pool of Siloam, he stood in the place of public concourse, and cried, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink: and out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” This latter expression is then explained by the Evangelist, who adds, “This spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive [Note: John 7:37-39.].” Now here we have, in a general view, the import of the expression in my text. The Holy Spirit is that water of life which Christ is empowered to bestow: and wherever that blessed Spirit is imparted, there is within the person’s own bosom a principle of life, seeking for vent in all suitable expressions of duty to God; or, as our Lord elsewhere expresses it, “there is within him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life [Note: John 4:14.];” to which the Holy Spirit, in all his tendencies and operations, leads us to aspire.]
2. More particularly—
[Three blessings in particular I will specify, as granted by our Lord Jesus Christ unto all who come unto him; namely, pardon, and holiness, and glory.
The Lord Jesus will in the first place bestow the pardon of our sins. He is said by the prophet to be “the Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness [Note: Zechariah 13:1.]:” and all who come to wash in that fountain are cleansed from all their sins. In it even “sins of a crimson dye” are made “white as snow [Note: Isaiah 1:18.]:” as it is said, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin [Note: 1 John 1:7.].”
For the purposes of sanctification also shall this gift be bestowed: for, by the Prophet Ezekiel, he says, “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and to keep my judgments to do them [Note: Ezekiel 36:25-27.].”
Eternal glory also will he confer upon them: for, when they have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” he will “lead them unto living fountains of waters [Note: Revelation 7:14; Revelation 7:17.],” and will cause them to “drink of the rivers of pleasure” which are “at God’s right hand for evermore [Note: Psalms 36:8; Psalms 16:11.].”]
Let us now turn our attention to,
II.
The invitation itself—
Here we cannot but notice the very peculiar urgency and freeness of it—
1. The urgency, to overcome reluctance—
[“The Spirit says, Come.” The Holy Spirit of God has undertaken the office of revealing Christ to men, and of bringing sinners to Christ for the remission of their sins [Note: John 16:8; John 16:14.]. He descended visibly on the day of Pentecost for these ends; and by the ministry of the Apostles, as also by his operation on the souls of men, wrought powerfully upon multitudes, whom he “made willing in the day of his power,” and effectually subdued to the obedience of faith. Thus at this time also is he carrying on the work that has been assigned him in the economy of redemption. In the written word, he speaks to us: by the ministry of his servants, he pleads with us: by the convictions which he fastens on our mind and conscience, he strives with us individually; if by any means he may constrain us to accept the blessings offered to us in the Gospel. His voice to us every day and hour is, “Come,” come to Christ as the Saviour of your soul.
“The Bride also says, Come.” The Bride is the Church, “the Lamb’s wife,” who has experienced in her own person all the blessedness of that salvation which she is so desirous of imparting to all around her. The Church of old addressed her Lord, saying, “Draw me, and we will run after thee [Note: Song of Solomon 1:4.]:” that is, ‘Draw me, and I will not come alone: I will surely labour to the utmost of my power to make known to others the wonders of thy love, that they also may be partakers of my felicity, and unite with me in honouring and adoring thee.’ Thus the Church does in every age. She is “the pillar and ground of the truth [Note: 1 Timothy 3:15.],” supporting it firmly in the world, and exhibiting, as by public inscriptions that are visible to all, the glory and excellency of the Gospel salvation. She then unites with the Spirit of God in saying to all around her, “Come:” Come to Jesus and see what a Saviour he is. See in me what he both can and will do for you also; however far off you may now be, you may draw nigh to him with a full assurance of acceptance with him; and though now “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, you may become fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God [Note: Ephesians 2:19.].”
“Let him also that heareth, say, Come.” Those to whom the foregoing invitations are announced, should unite their efforts to make them known, and to induce every creature under heaven to accept them. Think not, brethren, that you have performed your duty when you have heard these invitations from the lips of your minister; no, nor when you have yourselves complied with his advice. You are all to be preachers in your own circles; all to repeat to your friends and relatives, your families and dependents, the glad tidings which you hear of a free and full salvation; and, with one heart and one voice, should join in saying to all around you, “Come, come, come.” This was the conduct of Andrew and of Philip, when they had found the Saviour [Note: John 1:40-41; John 1:43; John 1:45.]; and this must be the conduct of us all, in our respective spheres.]
2. The freeness, to counteract despondency—
[We are all invited to “take of the water of life freely.” If we are “athirst,” we are the very persons whose names, if I may so speak, are especially written on the cards of invitation. Indeed, if our names had been expressly recorded in this passage, we should not have had a thousandth part of the assurance of God’s willingness to accept us that we now have; for there might be other persons of our name: but no mourning penitent in the universe can err in tracing his name in the designation that is here given.
It may be, however, that some may say, ‘I am not sufficiently athirst to be able to appropriate to myself this character. I should be glad indeed to obtain mercy of the Lord; but I do not pant after it as the hart after the water-brooks, and therefore I have not in myself the qualification that is here required.’ To counteract such desponding fears, the Saviour says, “Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” If you have not all the thirst that you can wish, have you the inclination? have you the desire? Then you are the person invited: and you must not dream of staying till you can bring certain qualifications along with you, but come and take these blessings “freely, without money and without price [Note: Isaiah 55:1.].”]
To impress this subject the more deeply on your minds, let me address a few words,
1.
To the reluctant—
[Many are the excuses which you urge for your declining the invitation sent you in the Gospel: and to you they appear perhaps sufficient to justify your refusal. But your Lord and Saviour will not be deceived: he sees the radical indisposition of your mind to the blessings which he offers you; and will say of you, as he did in reference to those of old, “They shall never taste of my supper [Note: Luke 14:16-24.].” You may be offering a variety of pleas: but he will put the true construction on them all, “Ye will not come unto me that ye may have life [Note: John 5:40.].” O think, how bitterly you will regret your present conduct, when you shall see unnumbered myriads, who were once as far off from him as you now are, sitting down at the marriage-supper of the Lamb, and you yourselves be cast out into outer darkness! What weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth will you then experience to all eternity [Note: Matthew 8:11-12.]! How will those words sound in your ears at the last day, “Often would I have gathered thee, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings; but ye would not [Note: Matthew 23:37.]!” Do but reflect on this one moment,—“I would; and ye would not.” Verily, that reflection will constitute the very summit of your misery in hell. I pray you, hold not out any longer against the urgent invitations which are now sent you; but come unto the Saviour, and accept the rest which he has promised to all that are weary and heavy-laden.]
2. To the desponding—
[What can the Saviour add to convince you of his willingness to accept and bless you? Perhaps you will say, ‘I have tried to come to him, and I cannot: and I have tried so long, that I think it in vain to entertain a hope of final success.’ Is this the case? Then hear what the Saviour says to you by the Prophet Isaiah: When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them: I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water [Note: Isaiah 41:17-18.]. Now I cannot conceive a case more desperate than that which is here depicted: The person is in himself “poor and needy.” (There you will easily recognize your own character. He has “sought for water,” even for the waters of salvation. (That represents what you also profess to have done.) He has “found none.” (There is your unhappy lot painted with the utmost precision.) “His tongue faileth for thirst;” so that he is ready to sink in utter despair. (What can you add to that, to bring it home more fully to your own case?) Yet this is the very person for whom God has reserved his blessings, and to whom he engages to impart them. ‘But I am in such a state, that it is almost impossible to deliver me: you might as well expect a river to be running over the highest mountains, as for the waters of salvation to reach me.’ Is that the case? says the Saviour: then “I will open rivers in high places; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” See here, my brethren, what wonderful condescension there is in your Lord and Saviour, that he will so describe your case, that it should not be possible for you to fail in recognising your own character, or to doubt any longer his ability and willingness to save you. Take then this passage; and rely upon it; and plead it with him; and expect the accomplishment of it to your own soul. Then shall “your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon-day [Note: Isaiah 58:10.].” You shall find that the Saviour is not “a fountain sealed [Note: Song of Solomon 4:12.],” but “a fountain opened [Note: Psalms 36:9; Joel 3:18.];” and “out of that well of salvation you shall drink water with joy” for evermore [Note: Isaiah 12:3.]