Even So, Come

Come Lord Jesus. These words have been on my mind and lips for years now but have become my honest heart cry as of late. With the leaves falling off the trees, the whisper of the coming winter on the wind, and the world continuing to head toward a spiritual winter as the hearts of men grow colder, it can be difficult to remain joyful and hopeful in these times and seasons that we live in. When we think about bringing a song to the Lord in worship, often we think of those great anthemic lyrics of praise; ascriptive words of adoration, lauding Him and singing back the truths of who our God is at the top of our lungs. Often though, I have realized that the Lord isn’t always seeking those words from us, especially if we are going through a time of depression, being downcast and weary, longing for the promise of all things to be made new. I believe He would rather hear what our heart and soul are truly feeling.

I find it interesting that even in the secular areas of the world, there will be a song soon to be played and sung with the words “oh come, oh come Emmanuel.” Even those who have never known Jesus on a personal level may be singing these very words with their friends and family, not fully grasping the words that they are declaring and asking. In this hymn, the last words declare to rejoice for Emmanuel shall come to Israel; but we also know that our Lord is coming for His bride, Jews and Gentiles alike. When listening to the overall tone of this song though, it has a darker, more melancholy tone to it. Even though the words of each verse of this hymn end with an exhortation to rejoice, typically, the final chord of each section ends in a minor tone, one that usually resonates with a heart that is downcast and broken. We are living in a world that is longing for relief and hope, and those we might be rubbing shoulders with in the congregation might just be in that same exact place. Despite knowing the Word of God, there are times that our heart cannot always come alongside the hopeful knowledge we have learned from Him, and that is why we cry out to Him all the more.

There indeed will come a day as prophesied in Scripture that He will come again. In Revelation 22:17, the Apostle John writes, “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” In this verse we see that not only does the bride ask the Lord boldly to come again, but the Spirit of God also. It is reassuring to know that the Holy Spirit also requests this. For those who are wearied in their travels, in a barren land where there isn’t much to look forward to on this earth, the exhortation in this verse is for those who are thirsty to freely come and partake of the water of life freely. In John 4:14 Jesus says, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” When we find ourselves weary and worn in the place the Lord has us, we need to run to the well that never runs dry and allow Him to rejuvenate us, until He calls us home.

So this month, as we see the approaching winter and the world continuing to head along the broad way away from God, pray and sing all the more earnestly for the coming of the Lord, and that hearts that are away from Him would turn to Him. Cling to Jesus’ final words at the end of the book that we hold so near and dear, “Surely I am coming quickly,” and say with the Apostle John, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

Spirit and the Bride by Joshua Aaron

Let the one who hears the Savior, say come

Let the one who is thirsty, come

Behold the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End

In Him we will never, never thirst again

Oh the Spirit and the bride, they say come

Come, oh come

By Mark Anderson

November 2022