THE LAST INVITATION-- REVELATION 22:17

There are two comings seen in these final verses of the book of Revelation. First, there is the second coming of Christ to this world, and second, there is  the invited coming of the world to Christ.  

The coming of Christ to this world  is delayed among other reasons so that all the world may hear His gracious invitation.

The Lord is coming to this world again, but before He comes there goes out an invitation to “come” to the world .

“Come” seems to be a favorite of God.  Jesus invited people to “COME AND SEE,” “COME AND DRINK,” and “COME AND REST.” “Come” is the word that echoes with sweet music in every part of the Bible? 

What was the word that God spake to man before He  destroyed the earth with a flood? What is the word  that prophets and apostles like to pronounce? What is the word that brought Peter to Jesus? What is the word  that was so often upon the lips of Christ? What is the  word that He spoke to little children, and to the  weary and the heavy laden?

What is the word which,  obeyed, awakens joy among the angels in heaven? What  is the word which, disobeyed, brings sorrow to the  heart of Christ? “Come” is the word that brings the  Bible to a close.

I.        OBSERVE THE PERSONS DESIGNATED

To whom is the come addressed?  The persons addressed are designate by two descriptions: they are “athirst” and those that “will.”

A.       The Word “Athirst” Designates The Craving-There is a universal need stamped upon men. There is a universal void in the heart of man.

B.       The Word “Will” Designates The  Choosing-The second description of the persons to whom the summons comes is  “whosoever will.”.

1.       It Speaks Of All Classes Of People.

                        2.       It Speaks Of All Colors Of People.

                        3.       It Speaks Of All Conditions Of People.

Illustrate:  The whosoever wills go to heaven and  whosoever will nots go to hell.

II.       OBSERVE THE PROVISION DEPICTED  “Water of life”

This is water which communicates life. It represents all that comes to men through Jesus Christ.

The “water of life” provides satisfaction of all desires, filling up every empty place in the heart, and meeting and answering all expectations.

In John 19:28 we hear Christ’s cry on the cross, “I thirst.” He thirsted that our thirst might be quenched. John 4:13 “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:” John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 6:35 Jesus declared, “he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

Christ offers to those who believe in him an ever flowing, never failing, soul satisfying, thirst quenching inner supply of living water.

 III.      OBSERVE THE PREREQUISITE DECLARED

“....and let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take.....”

John 7:37 “Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

“Come”,“take,” and “drink.”  These three things, come, take, and drink seem to me to cover the same ground.  Christ is simply asking man to trust his poor, sinful soul wholly and confidently to Him.

Nothing either, great or small. Nothing, sinner, no; Jesus did it, did it all. Long, long ago. Till to Jesus cross you cling  By a simple faith.

Doing is a deadly thing, Doing ends in death. Cast your deadly doing down, Down at Jesus feet; Trust in Him, in Him alone; Stand glorious and  complete. Come just as you are and take of the water of life freely. Though salvation is free, it is not cheap.

Conclusion: In this invitation I see the God’s greatest burden (Holy Spirit), the church’s greatest business ( how often we get busy with other things to the devil’s delight), and the world’s greatest bargain (take freely).  The invitation to come is an urgent matter. It is urgent for the saved to herald and for the sinner to heed. The day will come when it will be too late to announce the invitation  and to accept the invitation.