All the wondrous account of God’s ways, the revelation of His mind, the declaration of Himself in the person of the Eternal Word, His beloved Son the Lord Jesus is, wondrously set forth; yea, the whole divine volume all but finished; yet the abounding grace of God is still saying, “COME”. What a heart of love it bespeaks!
Then again, nearly at the close of the inspired prophecy of Isaiah, involving so much that is dear to the heart of God, in the declaration of the coming of Christ into this world, we have a similar call. “Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters!” Thrice the word “Come” is repeated.
As though it said, “All being set forth in prophecy according to the divine mind, by which God can accomplish His will to His eternal satisfaction, Come ye thirsty ones. Come ‘now’”.
It contemplates a thirst, a need deeply felt in the soul. To those satisfied with the things of this world, who find their life in the things of time and sense, the call finds no response.
But through all time there have been those here who have felt the lack of God, and have thirsted for Him. Surely the sense of need is created by Himself, and He loves to meet that need. Not only was it necessary for you to be born again, but the Son of Man had to be lifted up, that the love of God might be known. And the call of God is now, “COME”.
Well is it for our reader if a thirst for God has been aroused while in this scene, which is described in Psalms 63 as a “dry and thirsty land, where no water is,” and the cry is raised for a draft from God that will cause the soul to taste His goodness.
The call “Ho”, is one well known in the East, as was proved on a certain occasion when a young Englishman was wounded in a jungle whilst on a shooting expedition.
It was noticed that his native attendants continued to cry “He” for help, while others went in search of assistance.
There was such a depth of appeal and of beseeching in the tone of the men that it was fastened upon the memory of the young Englishman.
So the Gospel of God goes forth, calling upon men to repent, not simply to recognize that we are evil, but to recognize that God is good. Then as the knowledge of God becomes more and more the desire of the soul, bringing with it a deeper sense of our iniquity and sin against Him, the soul repents towards Him, owns its guilt, and drinks of the water of life flowing freely towards all.
God’s great love had not been fully expressed until the death of Christ had set it forth; but His love and grace, as well as His mercy exerted in righteousness, are now fully, made known. The Holy Ghost is now on the earth for this purpose; that is, to bear witness to Christ Jesus as the Saviour of sinners, and the Giver of life for whosoever will.
L.O.L.