October 10, 2024 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
The word “Come” is perhaps one of the most beautiful invitations in all of Scripture.
In the Old Testament, we hear God pleading, “Come now, and let us reason together. . . though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18, NKJV).
And in the New Testament are recorded many well-known invitations of Jesus:
“Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, NKJV).
“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14, NKJV).
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37, NKJV).
Even near the end of His life, Jesus “stood and cried out. . .’If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37,38, NKJV).
Our God is a God of invitation—He never forces or demands, but warmly, earnestly, invites.
Perhaps one of the most profound invitations in Scripture is found in Revelation 22:17—“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
Notice, this is a double invitation—First, God invites everyone who desires to come and “take the water of life freely.”
The second part of the invitation is directed to those who hear and listen to God’s call, encouraging them to invite others to come to Christ.
In the Bible, we see many examples of God working through people to call others to Himself. In the Old Testament, the Psalmist says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” (Ps. 95:6,7, NKJV).
In the New Testament, when Jesus invited Philip to follow Him, Philip answered the call and immediately invited his friend Nathaniel to meet the Savior. When Nathaniel learned that Jesus was from Nazareth, he exclaimed, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Rather than arguing, Philip simply gave the invitation, “Come and see” (John 1:45,46, NKJV).
God has rich blessings in store for those who invite others to learn of Him. In urging a church member to become involved in soul-winning, Ellen White wrote, “You have the privilege of witnessing for Jesus and advocating His truth wherever you may be. . . Angels long to do this work, and they will work through the human instrumentality that is submitted to Christ. Your life may be a grand opportunity for the holy angels to work for the saving of the lost” (Lt. 95, 1895, par. 7,8).
Tens of thousands of Seventh-day Adventists around the world are answering the call to be part of Global Total Member Involvement, and in the next few weeks you will hear more about them.
You, too, are invited to be a part of this great movement. Now is the time to get involved! Who can you invite to “come and see” today?