COME

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 20, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 42.

THERE are many who read this paper, we are persuaded, among rich and poor, high and low, as the world measures, who do not know Christ by personal acquaintance.

They have heard of Him as a friend of the poor, as a prophet, as a teacher, as a saviour of the world, as one who died upon Calvary. In a vague, uncertain sort of way they have hope in Him. And yet they do not know Him by personal acquaintance, by personal contact. They have never felt His blessed hand laid upon their head with cleansing touch, have never heard His voice say to them, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.”

Yet they long to know Him. They long to know His pardoning, cleansing love, His power to take away sin and sinning.

Some of these are discouraged over former ineffectual efforts to find Him. Some are held back by those who profess Christ, and yet do not seem to reveal Him in their lives. Some are restrained for other reasons.

But, dear soul, turn from all these hindrances forever. Not one thing on earth may hinder you from possessing Christ unless you desire to be hindered. The saving relation between your soul and His great heart of love must be purely personal. He does not want you to drink of His truth distilled through lying tradition. He does not wish you to talk to Him by some self-constituted representative. He has not separated you from Himself by a cordon of priests or by ecclesiastical red tape. Go to the fountain of Christian truth, His Word. Men who are there may invite you to come. His ambassadors may point the way; but the blessed Christ desires to bring you into as close and living relation to Himself as they.

Here is an invitation from Him so broad that it embraces every soul who desires to avail himself of it:—

“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.”

“The waters” are the waters of life, “a well of water springing up unto eternal life.” The “wine and milk” are representative of all the abundant and delectable provisions which God has in His storehouse for all the weary and hungry who may come. And when He offers these so freely and we refuse, is it any wonder that He asks, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not?” O, why toil and moil and drudge and pour out your whole life for that which only disappoints? Listen again to the Saviour:—

“Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. . . . Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.”

But you say, “I am not worthy to come, am not worthy to partake.” And in reply we say, No mortal soul is worthy; but listen further; God is not yet through:—

“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.”

This, reader, is a part of God’s glad message to you in that wonderful fifty-fifth chapter of Isaiah. Will you not accept the invitation, and let Christ be your Leader, your Witness, your Commander forevermore? For your own soul’s sake, accept His invitation now. It is your only hope. If you do, you will never regret it. His presence will be a well-spring of joy and strength all the way.