Revelation 22:17 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.
This is the last of God’s promises in the Bible. Anyone who is spiritually thirsty, dry and empty, may “may take of the water of life freely.” It is available to all since Jesus died and rose again. The water of life is a part of the joy and refreshment of living in the renewed Paradise of the New Jerusalem of the eternal new heavens and new earth forever.
The invitation is open to all. The Holy Spirit says, ”Come!” The Spirit invites all to come through the Gospel by which He effectively creates faith in Christ for forgiveness and eternal life. The Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation. It quenches thirst and continually renews the life of God within. This gospel invitation comes through the written, spoken, and visible (in the Sacraments) Word. The Spirit convinces us to ”come and drink freely,” but He does not force it against our will.
The Bride, the Church, the community of believers in Christ, also says, ”Come!” The invitation to drink freely is extended to all through live human beings who have already accepted the invitation. Christians gather together to preach the Gospel, administer the Sacraments, and witness the Gospel to the world.
This Gospel invitation comes along with and after the preaching of the Law, which convinces people they are thirsty, empty, and dead in sin. The Word shows us our problem and gives the only solution. Both conviction of need and conviction of the solution are revealed by the Word and the Spirit in the Church. Come, drink freely, today, and forever! ”The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.