Patience had her perfect work in the Lord Jesus. Until the very last day of the feast, he pleaded with the Jews. And here, on this last day of the year, he pleads with us still. He waits to be gracious to us.

How astonishing is our Savior's patience! Year after year he bears with us, despite our provocations, our rebellions, our resistance to his Holy Spirit. Wonder of wonders—we are still standing in the land of mercy!

Listen to how pity pours from his heart. Jesus cried out. Not just with a loud voice, but with tender tones. He begs us to be reconciled. The apostle says it this way: "We plead with you, as though God himself were pleading through us." What urgent, heartbreaking words! How deep must be the love that makes the Lord weep over sinners and, like a mother, draw his children to his breast! Surely such a cry will move our willing hearts.

The provision is overwhelming. Everything the human soul needs to quench its thirst is here. To the guilty conscience, his atonement brings peace. To the searching mind, the gospel brings truth beyond measure. To the lonely heart, the person of Jesus himself becomes the greatest treasure. To the whole person, the truth as it is in Jesus provides the purest food.

Thirst is agony. But Jesus can end it. Even if your soul is utterly famished, Jesus can restore it.

And the invitation goes out freely: every thirsty person is welcome. No other distinction is made. Just thirst. Whether it's the thirst of greed, ambition, pleasure, knowledge, or rest—whoever suffers from it is invited. The thirst itself may be wicked, no sign of grace at all, but the mark of runaway sin wanting deeper and deeper drinks of its own poison. But it's not the goodness in you that earns the invitation. The Lord Jesus sends it freely, without respect of persons.

And notice this: you must come to Jesus himself. Not to works. Not to rituals. Not to doctrines. But to a personal Redeemer who carried our sins in his own body on the tree. The bleeding, dying, rising Savior is the sinner's only hope.

Oh for grace to come and drink before the sun sets on this year's last day!

No waiting or preparation is required. Think about drinking—it needs no qualification. A fool can drink. A thief can drink. A prostitute can drink. Your sinful character is no barrier to believing in Jesus. We need no golden cup, no jeweled chalice to carry water to the thirsty. The poorest mouth can stoop down and drink deeply from the flowing stream. Blistered lips, diseased lips, filthy lips may touch the stream of divine love. They cannot pollute it. Instead, they themselves will be made clean.

Jesus is the fountain of hope. Dear reader, hear your dear Redeemer's loving voice as he cries to each of us: "IF ANYONE IS THIRSTY, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK."