Spurgeon: June AM
* 06/13/AM
"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
--Revelation 22:17
Jesus says, "take freely." He wants no payment or
preparation. He seeks no recommendation from our virtuous
emotions. If you have no good feelings, if you be but willing,
you are invited; therefore come! You have no belief and no
repentance,--come to Him, and He will give them to you. Come
just as you are, and take "Freely," without money and without
price. He gives Himself to needy ones. The drinking fountains at
the corners of our streets are valuable institutions; and we can
hardly imagine any one so foolish as to feel for his purse, when
he stands before one of them, and to cry, "I cannot drink
because I have not five pounds in my pocket." However poor the
man is, there is the fountain, and just as he is he may drink of
it. Thirsty passengers, as they go by, whether they are dressed
in fustian or in broadcloth, do not look for any warrant for
drinking; its being there is their warrant for taking its water
freely. The liberality of some good friends has put the
refreshing crystal there and we take it, and ask no questions.
Perhaps the only persons who need go thirsty through the street
where there is a drinking fountain, are the fine ladies and
gentlemen who are in their carriages. They are very thirsty, but
cannot think of being so vulgar as to get out to drink. It would
demean them, they think, to drink at a common drinking fountain: so they ride by with parched lips. Oh, how many there are who
are rich in their own good works and cannot therefore come to
Christ! "I will not be saved," they say, "in the same way as the
harlot or the swearer." What! go to heaven in the same way as a
chimney sweep. Is there no pathway to glory but the path which
led the thief there? I will not be saved that way. Such proud
boasters must remain without the living water; but, "WHOSOEVER
WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY ."