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. Revelation 22:17
Years ago startling news broke about a special water from springs in Tennessee. Business boomed. At one point a half liter of the water was selling for $80. The bottle was made of beautiful cut glass. The water company could hardly keep up with orders. If the water was absolutely free, would people flock to get it? Customers raved about the water and the satisfaction of its taste.
One wonders what it is about the water that caused people to seek it with enthusiasm? Water for the body quenches thirst. Everyone knows the pure delight of a cold drink of water on a hot day summer day. Water sustains life. The heart, lungs, kidneys all thrive on water. Many body ailments can be attributed to lack of water.
There is another kind of water: different, lasting, and satisfying to the soul.
It is free to anyone who will ask for it. It is provided by the Lord and comes from “The springs of living water” (Judges 1:15)
Water in the Bible is used to express:
Sorrow - “I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my coach with weeping” (Ps. 6:6)
Exhaustion - “poured out like water” (Ps. 22:14)
Dire need - “As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” (Ps. 42:1)
Crisis - “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Ps. 63:1)
Abundance - “You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.” (Ps. 65:9).
The wells of the world soon run dry because they are wells of pragmatism, secularism, new-age thought, pluralism, and human effort and merit. The Lord Jesus told the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks of this water (Jacob's well) will be thirsty again.” (John 4:13). Jesus, however, offered a water, giving permanent quench of thirst, residing in the soul, springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14). The woman from the hilltop city of Sychar said, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”(John 4:16). Daily drinks at the fountain of Truth will bring joy to the heart.
In agony of pain and suffering for our sins at the cross, Jesus cried and said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Then the Master bowed His head, dismissed His Spirit. Out of our Lord's thunderous shout came the words, “It is finished” (19:30). The cost of our redemption was paid in full, opening up the well waters of eternal life, satisfying souls the world over with the waters of deliverance from death, redemption from ruin and salvation from sin. This enables the believer to move from alienation to acceptance, from guilt to grace, from misery to mercy (Eph. 1:6-7; 2:8-9).
The blessing of salvation is free to all who will come to the fountain of eternal life in Christ. There is an alert to all who come along the path of life: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, com buy and eat! Com, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isa. 55:1). Anyone, anyplace, at anytime, may come and drink. The very last invitation in the Bible calls all from every walk of life, “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 teh water of life without price.” (Rev. 22:17).
Suppose the water company in Tennessee suddenly refused to share the water with people—though at tremendous loss? People would be exasperated; the company would be charged with criminal arrogance and sued for its wickedness. In contrast, God's water of life is available to everyone along the path of life (John 3:16), for God turns none away empty except those filled with self. There is, however, a challenge to every Child of God. What are you doing to share this free water of life with those around you?