June 13, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." — Revelation 22:17 · KJV

Jesus says, "take freely." He wants no payment and no preparation; He seeks no recommendation from our virtuous emotions. If you have no good feelings, but are simply willing, you are invited—therefore come! You have no faith 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 public drinking fountains at our street corners are valuable institutions, and we can hardly imagine anyone so foolish as to stand before one fumbling for his wallet and crying, "I cannot drink, because I have no money in my pocket." However poor a man is, there stands the fountain, and just as he is he may drink of it. Thirsty passersby, whether dressed in work clothes or in fine tailoring, do not look for any warrant for drinking; the fountain's being there is warrant enough for taking its water freely. The generosity of good friends put the refreshing water there, and we take it and ask no questions. Perhaps the only people who need go thirsty down a street with a drinking fountain are the fine ladies and gentlemen riding past in their carriages. They are very thirsty, but cannot imagine being so vulgar as to get out and drink; it would demean them, they think, to drink at a common fountain—so they ride by with parched lips. Oh, how many there are who are rich in their own good works and therefore cannot come to Christ! "I will not be saved," they say, "in the same way as the prostitute or the blasphemer." What—go to heaven by the same road as a common laborer? Is there no path to glory but the one that led the thief there? Then 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."