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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 15, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 37.

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COME

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Who says it?
“The Spirit and the Bride say, Come.”
To whom do they say it?
“Let him that is athirst come.”
How many may come?
“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.
May the poor come as well as the rich?
“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.
Who has this water of life to offer so freely?
“Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” John 7:37.
But is there not danger that the supply will be exhausted?
“How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life.” Ps. 36:7–9. God is “the Fountain of living waters.” Jer. 2:13.
What will those receive who listen to this gracious invitation?
“Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live.” Isa. 4:3.
What kind of existence is it that He gives those who come? Is it a life of toil and drudgery?
“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; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:28–30.
Do you say that you do not know where to find the Lord?
He is “not far from every one of us.” Acts 17:27. “Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord?” Jer. 23:24.
Are you so weak that you have not strength to come? That is all right; see what power there is in the word “come.”
The disciples of Jesus were on the stormy sea, in a boat, tossed by the waves, when Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water. Peter said, “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” Matt. 14:28, 29.
Thus we see that there is power in the word “come,” which Jesus utters, to bring any one to Him who yields to the word, and trusts it. It matters not whether it be on the water, or through the air; the word “come” has the power to carry.
With what power does this gracious invitation of Christ draw those who listen and yield to it?
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved Thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jer. 31:3.
“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.
“Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Eph. 2:13.
Has the Lord given us any visible, tangible evidence of His power to draw and to hold?
“He draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from His vapor; which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.” Job 36:27, 28, R.V. He “hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand;” “He taketh up the isles as a very little thing.” Isa. 40:12, 15.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom. 5:1, 2.
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels.” “Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 16:27; 25:34.
If we listen now to His voice, saying, “Come,” and become acquainted with it, and love it, when He comes in His glory, and says, “Come,” we shall be “caught up” “to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17.
The power by which our bodies will at that time be changed, and we be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, is the same power that now works to change us from sin to righteousness. Will you not yield to it?
“O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
E. J. Waggoner.