BEN F. VICK, JR.
If you were traveling a hot, sultry dirt road one afternoon and were to hear behind you a voice that said, “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), what would be your reaction? Three questions might come to your mind: (1) Who is speaking? (2) To whom does the voice speak? (3) What is the voice saying?
Who is speaking? The prophet Isaiah was speaking for God. Today, we hear the voice of God through his word, just as Paul referred to the Jews, who had heard the voices of the prophets as they were read every sabbath; so, we can hear the voice of God through the Bible today. We hear the Creator and Sustainer of life through the word of life today. At one time, God spoke in several ways to man. The writer of Hebrews said:
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:1-3).
God does not speak to us through dreams, a burning bush, or handwriting on the wall today, but through his precious word, he reveals his will (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Do we take His word for granted? Having heard it all our lives, do we forget that it is God’s speaking to us? A visitor to Niagara Falls is in awe of the mighty cataract, but those who have lived beside it all their lives perhaps fail to be impressed with its majestic power. Jesus is tenderly calling us through his word (Matt. 11:28-30).
To whom is the voice speaking? God is inviting the world – “every one that thirsteth.” Though spoken to the world, the invitation is personal and individual. Christianity is personal. The jailor said, “What must I do to be saved?” We shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ individually (2 Cor. 5:10).
“Ho” indicates those far off. One does not say “Ho” to those near or beside him but to those at a distance. The distance, though, is not geographical but spiritual. Because of his sin, man is separated from God (Isa. 59:1-2). Man needs to be reconciled to God. Thus, he must return to God (2 Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 2:11-17).
The third question is, “What is the voice saying?” What is this all about? The Voice of God invites all to drink the water of life, salvation. All the world is thirsty for salvation. They may not realize it, but they are dehydrated spiritually. Isaiah, in another place, wrote, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:2-3). Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink” (John 7:37). John wrote, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
The waters of salvation are offered freely. The prophet Isaiah said, “…he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” However, this does not mean there is nothing for one to do. Three days after Israel had crossed the Red, they came to Marah but could not drink because the waters were bitter. They murmured to Moses. Moses cried to the Lord, who told him to cast a tree into the waters, and they became sweet. The people were able to drink. However, if they had stood there after sweet waters were provided and did nothing, they would have died of thirst. They had to drink that which God had provided. It was the same at Horeb when Moses smote the rock, and the waters gushed out. If one is thirsty and does not drink, he will die. Then, whose fault is it?
Water is vital for the body, and salvation is essential for the soul. Destruction happens to a garden if there is no water (Isa. 1:30). Fish will die without water (Isa. 50:2). Hagar and Ishmael needed water, and God provided it (Gen.21:12-19). After slaying a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, Samson was exceedingly thirsty and called upon the Lord, who provided him with water (Judges 15:14-19).
Water has cleansing properties. Man has been defiled by his sins. He needs cleansing. Money, status, education, philosophy, or politics cannot save one’s soul. But obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, including baptism, can save one. Oh, there’s nothing magical in the water. In baptism, one contacts the precious blood of Christ (Acts 22:16; Rev. 1:5; Rom. 6:3-4). Saul of Tarsus was told: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Paul told the saints in Ephesus: “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26). To Titus he wrote, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
The Lord’s invitation is for all, but each must accept it to have the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life.