Satisfied by Free Grace

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. Why do you spend your money for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.--Isaiah 55:1-2 (ESV)

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.--Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV)

Isaiah 55 gives two different gospel calls, one in verses 1 and 2, another in verses 6 and 7. The first call focuses on two things: (1) God's grace cannot be bought nor deserved; rather, it is free grace, and (2) God's grace, not the world's pleasures, will truly satisfy. Think about this. The world sells for a high price unsatisfying pleasures; the LORD freely gives satisfying joy. Which will you choose?

The second gospel call of Isaiah 55 is a simple evangelistic message: Repent and return to the LORD and He will save you. The point which caught my attention this morning is the urgency of verse 6: "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near." Nonbelievers do not have an eternity to return to God; their "window of opportunity" is short. As we preach to the unsaved, let's not forget the frightening urgency of our message.