“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” (Isaiah 55:1-3 ESV)

You know what I am confident that Jesus has to say to you right now?

 

 

That’s what I hear Him speaking to my heart these days, and it’s the message all over Scripture.

 

Creator God walks through the garden in the cool of the day, a garden now spoiled for His creatures by their own rebellion. God comes walking, and His creatures hide, thinking their nakedness and rebellious hearts are hidden from His sight (Genesis 3:8-9).

 

We are hiders, aren’t we? We are fearful of His presence and His glory. We are wary of the light because “men love darkness” and light exposes our evil hearts (John 3:19).

I myself have every excuse for not coming:

God can’t possibly speak into this situation. Surely, He can’t be what I need right now.
Come to me. Find rest in ME (Matthew 11:28-29). I am the bread of life. I am the living water. I have the words of life that you need.

Even in his dying hours on the cross, the hours that paid our debt and set us free, Jesus was still saying, “Come.”

“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”” (Luke 23:39-43 ESV)

Jesus did not equivocate or lecture in response to the asking. Jesus does not withhold Himself from those who ask:

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:8-11 ESV)

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV)

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

The thief crucified on Jesus’ side could have thought of every excuse not to come to Jesus—too little, too late, too shameful, too much pain. But he humbled himself and simply came, and was taken in for eternity. 

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25 ESV)

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Rev 22:17 ESV)