THE LAST INVITATION by M. A. Price

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 10, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 37.

“THE LAST INVITATION.”

By M. A. Price

“Ho, EVERY one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isa. 55 : 1. The invitation has been extended from the days of Adam down to our time. It is the last invitation. “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Verse 6.

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found,” implies that He will not always be found; and that time is near. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. . . . They shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” Amos 8 : 11, 12. “And yet have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” “Therefore repent, and turn yourselves from your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Eze 18 : 23, 30, 32. “While mercy lingers, let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 55 : 7-9.

The heavenly Father still invites all to come to the waters and drink. “Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” The doors of mercy are still open, and the hands that were pierced for the sins of the people are still stretched out to a rebellious generation. Behold the wounded hands of Him “who was bruised for our iniquities,” and with whose “stripes we are healed.”

“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.” Rev. 22 : 17. He that accepts the water of life now, when it is so freely offered, will not have to drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which will be poured without mixture of mercy upon every one who slights the great Gift of God’s love. M. A. PRICE.

Ingersol, O. T.