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Love's Final Invitation
by Stephen Stillman We have been blessed to have the Bible. The Bible provides us with history, thousands of promises, words of instruction, narration, poetry, and prophecy. Probably some of the most important words of Scripture are found at the end of the Bible in Revelation 22:17, "And the Spirit and bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come, And let him that is a thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." These words are wonderful because they are a gracious invitation which bear the marks of earnestness and urgency. This invitation is marked with urgency because of the background from which it comes. This invitation sounds as if it may have been offered from a quiet church on a peaceful Sabbath morning, but just the opposite is true. The invitation was offered when the world had gone wrong. Right was being overcome by evil. Dark clouds of persecution were hanging everywhere. It was a time of unrest and disquiet. It was a time when men's minds were frustrated, when the forces of evil have done their worst, and when every course of life had proven futile. It was a time when men often turn to God. It was a time that the beloved disciple John banished to the isle of Patmos, and it is from there that John is moved by the Holy Spirit to send out a call for men to turn to God. It is a gracious invitation. This invitation is gracious because it is offered to everyone who hears it. It is not an invitation based upon good works, but an invitation freely offered to all. The call of the Gospel is, Come. The invitation is reinforced by the Holy Spirit and the churches. The invitation is extended to all who felt in their souls a thirst for the things which the world could not supply. Our loving God has forever been extending this gracious invitation to sinful man. Isaiah had very boldly issued this invitation by his words, "everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that that no money; come ye, buy, and eat; ye, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." The need for this invitation is very apparent today. There is nothing that can take the place of this invitation. The world still rejects Jesus and refuses to give Him reign over us. The world still prefers evil over goodness. Yet His gracious invitation still abides. Those who are behind the call. When we receive an invitation our interest is in the person or persons who is responsible for it. Who is behind the invitation and what is the motive of the call? On a close study of this love invitation we can discover the persons who are behind it and their motives for sending it. All heaven is behind the invitation. Apparently the beloved disciple John felt that time was short. He feels he is sending the invitation in the very niche of time. This motive has always been true of the Gospel. It has always been the message that time is fleeting and now is the day of salvation. The Holy Spirit extends the invitation. Behind the Holy Spirit is God the Father. The Holy Spirit was sent at Pentecost, when the Church was born. The Holy Spirit came to revive the falling spirits of the disciples. The Holy Spirit has often refreshed the Church by illuminating and guiding. Above all the Holy Spirit reveals Christ as Lord and Master. Earth is also interested in extending this invitation for men to repent and come to new life. That has ever been the way by which the Gospel message spread. There is a call for those who have received the glad tidings of salvation not only to live the Truth as it has been revealed in Jesus, but to propagate it. Our times have seen the mighty evil of propaganda, false, misleading and destructive. Men's minds are swayed this way and that. The world will continue in the darkness of doubt and fear until we become positive crusaders for Christ. Christians everywhere have the opportunity to witness to the saving and keeping power of Christ. Glorious results in accepting the invitation. There is a powerful fact facing the world today, that outside of Jesus Christ men are unsatisfied. There is no peace and sin still holds the world in it's grip. Men need the power to break the binds of sin and find a way of escape. Acceptance of the invitation and the salvation it brings, delivers men from sin and it's power. Men can find assurance of forgiveness in the acceptance of the invitation. The desire for a faith to live by is realized in Jesus. When men accept this invitation and new life is opened, and new forces come to dominate the life. Selfishness is turned into unselfishness, and the Spirit of love covers all actions. Men can meet life's tasks and bear life's trials and burdens in the strength of a new relationship. The hope of the world rests in Jesus Christ. The individual life and collective life finds it's hope in Christ. If men want their individual life to be pure and honest, fellowship with Jesus is essential. If we want the national structure to be sound and strong, we must build Christ into our laws and administration of those laws. If you have read this article you have heard Love's Final Invitation, and the invitation is inviting you to "come". If you are thirsty for a better, secure life, the invitation of love stands. It is a gracious invitation which means it is an invitation no one desires but is freely given. Heaven, earth, and the Holy Spirit are behind the invitation. The motivation behind the invitation is God's love. There are glorious results in accepting the invitation. Stephen Stillman, owner of www.amazingchristianproducts.com a website that offers great Christian articles and a variety of religious products. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |