Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-07-27
LESSON FOR JULY 20
GODS GRACIOUS INVITATION.


while he Is near.-Isa. $50
The Bible Is throughout forward
looking book No matter how dark
the light, II looks forward to the dawn
Of new and better day. Whenever
written, the prophet looks forward to-
ward the end Of the BabyiOnlan exile.
Isaiah died about 142 years before that
event. That scene is laid In Baby.
lonia. Isaiah prophesied In Jerusalem.
!. The Invitation, wv. 1-S) In or
der to understand the fullness and
blessedness Of this invitation, we
should read in Its connection chapters
SO and 81. In chapter 80 we have
prophecy and vision Of the Messiah,
making his atonement for sins.
wounded for our transgressions."
Again we have in this connection n
picture of the Messiah as our leader
and Savior. In chapter So we have
the invitation and joyous welcome to
the beautiful city which he Is estab-
fishing FOR us.
(1) Who Is lnvlted7 The word "fIo"
Is perhaps IN abbrevlatIon Of the
word "Hold" used to excite attention.
This invitation Is extended to every
one: (a) the "thirsty," to those who
are needy; (b) the poor and the rich;
those "wlthout money" and the supply
is abundant, even as the water. Every
one is invited without limitation or
distinction. The greatness Of mans
spirit is measured by the numbers OF
his desires and thrsts, by their quail
tiles and by his capacities or the In
tensfty Of his thirst. Those invited
were to have "wine," luxury, and
milk" staple necessity, without
money and without price. The cur
rency of the kingdom Of Heaven Is
grace ". y. Money has Its uses, but
It will never bring things that are best
and really worth while. The only sat.
Isfactory investments we have are
those which are made In the kingdom
OF God. In Australia we are told
there Is the "Nardoo Plant" which
will satisfy hunger but does not sup
ply nourlshment, so that those who
eat 1t are soon hungry again. Thus
/ II is with the pleasures and profits OF
this world. Wherefore do We spend
money for that which is not bread and
labor for that which satisfeth not"
Solomon tried all that the world could
give under the most favorable clrcum-
stances, yet found 1t to be VANITY
and vexation Of spirit"
(2) Who Will Come? ". ~. Only
those who are listening and who are
attentive. Many fail of eternal life
because they do not pay attention to
the claims of religion. "C0me unto
me-" Matt. II :2S). We go to God
for salvation and help, and we find
life. Life is more than mere exist
ence. II Is the natural, harmonious,
joyous activity of every part Of our
being. The result of coming Is, your
soul shall live" and the surety of II
is, ian everlasting covenant" Liter
ally, an agreement with promises
which can never be broken, namely,
"the sure mercies OF David" (See ii
Sam. II 20; Cor. 17;7-27; Ps. 80 Ia;
also Luke GOAL Az. We are bought
but we did not pay the price. The
mercles of David are the antitype of
our Savior; the mercy of grace. True
satisfaction is in its right order (See
Wv. 9, 81. Christ is faithful witness,
the exalted one, ". 81 to this cove
nant.
(3) When to Come ". 6). While
he may be found, and while he Is
near, implying time when he may
not be found and time when he VIII
not be near. All of Gods promises are
conditional.
az The Way to Come ". y. For
sake open sin, turn from unrighteous
thought, turn to the Lord and receive
his multiplied pardon" Man is every
where depicted In the Scriptures as
wandering aSay from the true God
and there Is no salvation IL we insist
on continuing In sin.
n. The Transformation wv. S-13).
Gods promises have back of them all
the power of the universe and are as
certain as the process of the seasons.
In working out his transformation In
the character Of man, we are to think
his thoughts after him. We see and
know only very little of this spirit,
but God sees, knows and controls the
universe, which is at his command.
Il Cor. 10 ;13; Phil. 4:19). We are to
enter into his ways, and his ways are
as the heavens, higher than those of
the earth. Having entered into his
ways we are to bring his fruits (see
John 15). II the Divine seed ". 1)
Is implanted within us, then we may ex-
pect to see the fruits of the kingdom
of God, which are born of the spirit.
(Gal. 5:22-26). This transformation
involves service, for we are to have n
mission, "go out to all the earth" be-
Ing led by the Messiah and thus re-
ceive 10Y and peace" AS sure as
"the rain cometh down and the snow
from heaven and returneth not but
watereth the EARTH" so is the seed Of
the Word In the hands of the sower, to
become bread TO the eater. AS We go
forth we have his promise ". 1I that,
ut shall not return void but shall ac-
compllsh that which l please, and 1t
shall prosper In the thing whereto |
sent it." As a result the "thorns' (eviD
shall be displaced by fig trees"
(good). Gods word bears fruit In I'M
planted lives. John 6 :39; James l :1S;
| Peter l :23). God calls this word,
which is spoken of by the prophet, my
word" What the prophet says, God
says. What an inspired man says, God
inspires him to say. Gods promise