The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” vs. 17
Revelation 22:16-17, 20-21
As the book of Revelation draws to a close, we see that the author’s final word is invitational. Not only do believers invite the Lord Jesus to come into their lives, there is a heartfelt invitation for the thirsty to come and drink from the water of life. And who are the thirsty? It could be any one of us. Some thirst for justice and peace, for an end to violence and endless wars. Some of us are walking in the deep darkness of pain and sadness. Overcome by the injustice and the randomness of illness and accidents, we yearn for words of hope and consolation. Others have a deep poverty of spirit and thirst for signs that God is near and that their lives have purpose. And where do we find this water of life? Once it was felt that we could find it in the church–but for some that’s just not happening. Too many are leaving their congregations because they feel the living water no longer flows there. And we can’t blame them! Outside observers say they see no difference in the lives of those who worship regularly. Their values, habits, and practices are exactly the same as non-churchgoers. Perhaps it’s time for every congregation to fix their fountains. We just can’t keep on ignoring all the thirsty people.
Thought for the Day: Where do I find Living Water?
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