LIKE such beautiful words as Come, Look, Hear, and Believe, which run like a thread of gold all through the “scriptures of truth,” “Take” stands out brightly in its manifold connections. Let us briefly meditate upon five of these gracious texts which the Spirit of God has written for the profit of His creatures.
THE “TAKE” OF INVITATION.
“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). Just as God is about to close the book of His communications, showing His servants the things that must shortly be done, and after describing graphically all the fearful judgments about to descend upon the professing Church and the world of the ungodly, He utters a last and loving appeal to “him that is athirst,” and “whosoever will” to come, and take the water of life freely. Just analyze this simple declaration of the heart of God, break it up, and examine it in detail, perfect as a whole. It is perfect in every part, and adapted to you if still you have not drunk of the fountain of the water of life freely.
“WHOSOEVER” ― means any or every one, irrespective of rank, young or old, rich or poor.
“WILL”―Who have an honest desire for life and everlasting salvation.
“LET HIM TAKE”―Accept, receive, appropriate, stoop down and drink and live.
“THE WATER OF LIFE”―The vivifying, purifying, satisfying Spirit of the living God, bringing life by the Word of God, which by the gospel is preached unto you.
“FREELY”―For nothing, gratuitously, without money and without price. “Hear, and your soul shall live.”
THE “TAKE” OF ADVICE.
“Take with you words, and turn to the Lord” (Hos. 14:2). The prophet, in unfeigned love for those who had fallen by their iniquity, spoke faithfully, like a true physician not mitigating their disease, but bringing all to the light, so as to be healed in a divine way. Let us analyze this advice. “Take with you words;” mark well “words,” not “works.” Works before “repentance unto life” are “dead works,” worthless before God, yea, an insult to His “work” of grace. He says to every son of Adam, “Thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.” Being” fallen, “and that” by iniquity,” how can you, O guilty soul, for a moment think of bringing any of your works to the God who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity? But let us see what the “words” are which the Lord will accept. Say unto Him, “Take away all our iniquity.” Beautiful request, fitting indeed for guilty, helpless wanderers, “Take away.” He only can, and will do it through the blood of His Christ, shed for many, for the remission of sins. “Receive us graciously.” What a request! Even of old. He has showed Himself a God ready to pardon, oh, so graciously. A pardoned people, a people received graciously, like returning prodigals, are sure to become a praising people. “So will we render the calves (or fruit) of our lips.” They are, moreover, a humbled, confessing people, as the context shows. But what answers the Lord to the confession? “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him.” What encouragement for the backslider in heart is here! Turn ye today.
THE “TAKE” OF REST.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:29). This world is full of turmoil. Sin is the cause of all the dissatisfaction and unrest seen everywhere. “There is no rest, saith my God, to the wicked,” none on earth, none in hell. What an awful future for your guilty sin-burdened soul. No rest in hell. Listen, what is the doom of the victim of Satan: “The smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest, day nor night” (Rev. 14:11). What a contrast is offered by the Son of God, who still says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” The divine Saviour is the resting-place of faith, in Him is sweet repose from sin’s weary drudgery, and guilt’s fearful smart. As to taking His yoke, it becomes real rest to give up one’s own will for His. His love is rest indeed, and His service perfect liberty. He only can transform His followers into being “meek and lowly” like Himself. Even His people sometimes fail to bear the blessed yoke He gives by fretting themselves, instead of walking in His gracious company.
THE “TAKE” OF WISDOM.
“Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life” (Prov. 4:13). “Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom.” Wisdom is personified in Scripture as a female, because the woman at the beginning was made “help-meet” for the man. Wisdom is a choice, chaste, life companion, worthy of man’s choice, a guide unerring to holiness and true happiness. God’s Word is the law of wisdom, God’s Christ the personification of wisdom, and God’s Spirit is the spirit of wisdom. To shun either is to perish, to refuse wisdom is to remain a fool. To be an infidel is to be a fool, for “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Let us hear the exhortation, “Take fast hold of instruction.” Plants get nourishment by taking hold of the soil by their roots. The mill-wheel turns by reason of taking hold of the water. The spider taketh hold with her hands. Faith taketh fast hold of instruction, and does not let her depart, but keeps her. “If a man love me, he will keep my words.” “She is thy life.” “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Lastly, let me recall the words of the Lord Jesus when He said to His own, “Take, eat: this is my body” (Matt. 26:26), this is
THE “TAKE” OF INFINITE LOVE.
How hard is the heart which is unmoved by such proof of ineffable love! “Hereby perceive we the love, because he laid down his life for us.” Love untold, yet told in blood. Love emptying itself, that it might soften and fill ten thousand times tea thousand once wayward but now believing hearts, bowing them at Jesus’ feet in everlasting adoration. Death is your necessity, it was the Son’s choice. He died, bearing away once for all God’s awful judgment. But if you would be saved, you must appropriate His death as yours. This is the meaning of the scripture in John 6 “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” No life apart from His death. “Take”―accept it. Eat―appropriate Him as dying for you. He alone is life and the food of life. To Him be glory now and forever.
T R. D