An Offer Too Good to Refuse

July 11, 1993 Isaiah 55:1-5; 10-13 (6 - 9)

Introduction

(Yesterday I received another "offer" in the mail that was) "Too good to be true!" We become cynical about such claims.

But God is the only Person
who can make us an offer
that is literally
too good to refuse.

I. THE THIRST! Hearing the Word!

Ho! Everyone that thirsteth! Come to the waters! The universal thirst!

If we Christians are right about anything at all, there is one craving deep in your heart and mine, and in the heart of every human being on God's earth, that underlies and precedes every other need. It is not a superficial or secondary craving. It is absolutely elementary and essential. (Jesus Himself said it: "Man shall not live by bread alone — but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Father!")

We are made in the image of God. We are God-craving creatures. That craving may be denied, it may be stuffed and crammed with artificial God-substitutes. But there is no substitute for God in the human heart. God and God alone can fill our hearts to complete satisfaction.

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts! Come to the waters! Come, buy wine to revive and heal! Come buy milk to nourish and sustain! Buy water to refresh and maintain life! And the cost is in the coming, and in the covenant! There is no charge! No price!" This, indeed, an offer too good to refuse!

II. THE SATISFYING DRINK! Refreshing from the Word!

(Isaiah gives a picture- a sketch really- of the satisfaction of those who have come to the waters— ((10-13)) —a veritable harvest of LIFE!)

  1. Lowest level: A harvest of freedom FROM sin and increasingly so: though never from sin's nearness or temptation
  2. Second level: A harvest of joy in coming TO God in the privileges of sonship
  3. Higher levels: A harvest of sharing in the divine plan and purpose visible, recognizable fruit, yes— but also assurance of pleasing Father God.

III. THE COVENANT! Receiving the Word!

(But this harvest is conditional upon receiving the word. We hear a lot about unconditional love, of "acceptance." But that must be balanced with the truth that even unconditional love must be acknowledged and received!)

The operative word here is "SEEK!" "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found!" We usually relegate "seekers" to the newcomers- - to those who do not know the Lord.

But seeking is a way of life for God's people! Thirst is an indication of life!

  1. The word here is THAT GOD IS WILLING, EVEN WAITING TO MEET OUR VERY DEEPEST HEART'S LONGING. And that thirst-quenching love of God is available on the basis of A "WHOSOEVER WILL" CALL far and near!

    Available without cost:

    1. One cannot "buy" his way
    2. One cannot "good works" his way
    3. This does not mean that this is "cheap"; there is a vast difference between "priceless" and "worthless"
  2. Hearing, listening is the first step in finding the God-thirst quenched. For hearing the word leads to the offer of A COVENANT WITH GOD.

    The covenant is simply saying: IF YOU SPEAK, I WILL OBEY! YOU BE GOD, I'LL BE YOUR MAN, YOUR WOMAN! This is where it begins!

    Remember Isaiah 43— which we looked at several weeks ago in a morning service. [You may have forgotten my sermon, but you may remember how Michael Ballard was inspired as he read this passage— and it was re-read at Baccalaureate for the college:]

    In Isaiah 43 God says (in this covenant relationship, there are some things that I am doing for you:

    1. First I made you
    2. Second I have redeemed you
    3. Third, I have called you by name and you are MINE!
    4. I will be with you, through flood or fire!
    5. for I AM the LORD your God!

    and in return

    1. You are to be MY witnesses!
    2. You are to tell people what I have done for you!

    That's it!

  3. Seek on the level of your need.
    1. Sin
    2. Adoption
    3. Adequacy for an assignment
    4. Present need, whatever it may be!

Conclusion

Last Tuesday morning in the Glasgow Airport I saw (a minor drama of) a little (3-yr old) boy. His parents just left on holiday, his granny holding him while he was absolutely devastated! Crying so bitterly it hurt my heart!

By contrast:

Last night Jake (our 3 yr-old grandson) came in out of the (90+ degrees of) heat— he looked around- got up on his grandmother's lap— and went to sleep for the night!

We are made to be at home in God! That need is like a keen thirsting! (Psalm 43 "As the deer pants after the water brook!") Our text sounds too good to be true! But it says

Ho! Everyone that is thirsting in Spirit! ...

Hymn No. 324

(Reading is No. 325)