By Scott Johnson
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (Isa 55:1 NIV)
For most of us the cost for our home is our top asset--our most expensive! Even if we own our home, we all have the monthly costs for taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, utilities, so on and so forth. Over an average lifetime, this adds up to a considerable sum of money. What about food? The costs for a daily provision of food for a lifetime would also be a very large sum of money. In fact, just think of the costs for water. Water that we drink, water that we use to clean, water that we enjoy, water that supplies energy and many industrial functions---water has a cost. Our shelter, our food, our water, our clothing, our transportation, our medical needs---all have great costs and the sum total if we put in terms of $$$ would be a staggering amount to say the least!
There is a place and a time, however, where all of these things will be free. There will be no more costs--at all--for the price has been paid! The splendor of these "commodities" will be unequaled and the lasting supply will be eternal, unending, and unchanging! Can you imagine living in a mansion---without cost? Yet Jesus is preparing many: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (Joh 14:1-3 KJV-BRG) Can you imagine living in a place where food is free? Yet the supply just from trees is explained by John: And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. (Rev 22:1-3 KJV-BRG) Can you imagine having all the fresh water you want--all you want to consume and all you want to enjoy for free? Jesus tells us in his last parting words that the water is free: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (without cost). (Rev 22:16-17 KJV-BRG)
To sum up this truly blissful, free and utopian life, Jesus explains: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves (free) treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also..... And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Free of cost). (Mat 6:19-234 KJV-BRG)
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (Joh 8:36 KJV-BRG) A day is coming when we will be free from sin and death! A day is coming when we will be free to enjoy the treasures and riches and pleasures of living forever--FREE!
Scott and Jane Johnson minister with East Faulkner Church of Christ and BRG Bible. Bible questions can be sent to [email protected]