“The grace won for us by the Servant of the LORD is not a theory. It’s an experience. And God wants us to enjoy it freely. His invitation is too good to refuse, too urgent even to delay. Isaiah 55:1 lies so close to the heart of God, it reappears at the very end of the Bible as God’s final word to us all until Christ returns (Revelation 22:17). This is the message God wants every member of the human race to hear. What is He saying? ‘Don’t just sit there thinking about this, theorizing, hesitating, making excuses. Get up. Come over here. I have rich spiritual privilege prepared for you. Buy in—though Someone Else has already paid your bill’” (Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.). Salvation isn’t for sale; it’s already been purchased by One who “was pierced for our transgressions” (53:5). But we must come to Him, rejecting our own solutions that never work anyway. Coming to Christ means listening diligently to His Word and delighting ourselves in His endless feast. Every hungry and thirsty soul is welcome in the everlasting kingdom of Jesus. As the fulfillment of ancient promises made to King David, Jesus is destined to rule the world forever. Nations will be drawn to His glory; and in Him, every person is fully loved. So let’s waste no time responding to this gracious invitation (v 1-5). With a sense of real urgency, Isaiah pleads for us to make radical adjustments in our lives, in light of God’s generous promises. Though we have all sinned against Him, the LORD is willing to “abundantly pardon.” But we must be willing, not only to say we are sorry, but also to forsake our evil ways. We dare not wait until a later time, for we may not always hear His voice speaking to us. This is why we are urged to “call upon Him while He is near” (v 6-7). And we must continue dealing openly and honestly with God, as we discover how much our thoughts and ways fail to reflect His thoughts and ways. More than a comment about God’s transcendent wisdom, this is Isaiah’s way of saying that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (v 8-9). Thankfully, His gospel promise will succeed in anyone who hears it with a responsive heart, for the Word of God never fails to accomplish whatever it proclaims (v 10-11). We who believe in Jesus will enter into perfect joy and peace. Even creation itself will erupt with joyful songs, acknowledging the glory of God with a standing ovation! Nothing will ever reverse or spoil our joy as God’s new people in His new creation. Our salvation will stand forever as an “everlasting sign”—irrefutable proof of what only God can do (v 12-13). For further meditation: