It comes without Cost

Isaiah 55:1-3

Often the salesperson in me comes out and today is one of those days, this is a deal too good to not share, but I must give you a disclaimer, it only has value for those who thirst.  Now this is the agreement, if you are thirsty and God uses a metaphor of water, wine and milk, and it comes without cost, it’s yours for the asking, but do not forget the disclaimer, it only has value for those who thirst.

As one who made their living trying to meet the customer’s expectations, I often forgot the fact that my Father in heaven had expectations of me, and He also has given me promises about how to live life on planet earth.  I’ve often said the easiest person to sell is a salesperson, and the world’s system has some great advertisement agents, it has an unbelievable marketing arm, and everywhere one turns they are selling you on how to get your needs met outside of God’s authority.  I bet you have bought into a few, I sure have; how to get rich without working, how this pill will change your weight problem without changing your eating habits, how this book will give you the successful marriage, or make you a better parent.  And what about the gloom and doom industry that seems to be very effective; prediction of adversity, especially in economic or business affairs; they are selling more than bad news, they always have a product that could, or might make life better.

Let me share one of my bought lessons and I have many.  Our family moved to the Houston area and bought a home in a new development, only five houses were complete, the developer and his family had died in a helicopter accident and the salesperson forgot to explain why I was getting such a great buy.  Long story cut short, I ended up on the “MUD” water district board, and we were forced to declare bankruptcy.  A large law firm came to us and offered to do work for free to help us, they made all kinds of promises, and the whole time they were buying time to kill any chance of declaring bankruptcy, it was later revealed their real client was the bond industry.   The world system is full of cons and deceivers, so be very careful, if it is too good to be true, then most of the time it is.

So with that said, why should you consider this offer from God?  Could it be you worked hard, tried all the ways of the world, and have ended up in a total mess, in business, with your family and you just want rest from all the cares of this world.  If so you, like the chosen people of God, need this invitation to experience forgiveness, you need physical nourishment of water, milk, and wine, and you need the spiritual nutrition of peace, joy, and hope found in Jesus Christ.  This is God’s offer: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

The Bible has been the most purchased book of our times, and the most not read, it’s not 

about heaven, though it tells us about heaven, it’s about how to find life on planet earth, how

 to negotiate the pot holes of life, how to establish guard rails so when life throws you a curve 

without warning, you will not be destroyed, but remember the guard rails are to make the 

wrecks manageable, not to keep you from having the wreck.   So God asked this question:  

“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that 

which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight 

yourselves in rich food.” (Isaiah 55:2 ESV)

A word to the wise and to the thirsty is sufficient, the Bible is the only handbook on life written by the Creator of life, it holds the truths you are searching for.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice