THE FREE GIFT; HAVE YOU TAKEN IT?
By Josiah Spiers
“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17. A LADY, who had been for months very anxious about her soul, met her minister one afternoon, who asked her if she had got the great question settled, and knew that her sins were forgiven. “Not yet,” she replied, “I have been reading my Bible and praying a good deal, but I can not find any comfort.” The minister said how sorry he was, and tried to explain again to her how salvation was a free gift, being offered by God; that all she had to do was to take this gift and be thankful. But the lady only shook her head, and said she could not understand it. When it was five o’clock, the lady asked her minister to come in to tea with her, which he did, hoping to have further conversation upon the way of life. The servant was dismissed, the blessing of God asked on the meal, and the lady, pouring out a cup of tea, handed it to the minister. Instead of taking it, he said, “Will you please give me a cup of tea?” “Will you take this?” said the lady, still holding out the cup. “I wish you would give me a cup of tea,” he replied. “I have poured this out on purpose for you,” answered the lady. “O, do, I beseech you, give me a cup of tea,” said the minister, falling down on his knees. The lady was quite startled by her minister’s strange conduct, and rose from her chair, fearing that his mind was giving way. I think she would have rung the bell for the servant, had he not reassured her by saying, “It is all right. I am only trying to teach you a lesson. You thought it very strange because I did not take the cup of tea, but kept on asking for it, and that is just how you have been treating God all this time. You have been begging and entreating Him to give you pardon and salvation, when all the time He has been holding out to you in His Word, the gift of eternal life, saying, ‘Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’ Rev. 22:17. The Spirit of God applied this truth to the lady’s soul, and she at once received Jesus, kneeling down and thanking God for this great salvation. O, that every reader of this incident would cry out with the Psalmist, “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.” Ps. 116:13. The Lord Jesus says, “Verily, verily (or, truly, truly), I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47.—Josiah Spiers.