A Voice in the Marketplace

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.  Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.” (Isaiah 55:1-3 NIV)

If you can picture walking along a fair midway with the game operators shouting at you to come over and win a prize, or an African market where men and women are hawking their wares to tourists, you can begin to understand the scene Isaiah is painting here.

Among the many vendors vying for attention in a market of ideas, beliefs, and practices is the Lord Himself.  He stands, not yelling above the din of competing voices, but pleading with anyone drawing close enough to hear to stop wasting their time on what they think will satisfy them or what seems to them important and to purchase what He is selling them—for free.

We walk in such a marketplace every day, with vendors of all types attempting to sell us their wares.  There are the various religions crying out that with their brand of god(s), we will find peace and fulfillment.  In another stall, there are the sciences claiming all can be explained if we just embrace what can be known and cast aside religious fantasies.  Nearby, there are the philosophers seeking to persuade us that life and existence are a mystery and worthy of lifelong study but short on any solid answers.  As we continue our stroll, there are the purveyors of various sorts of entertainment telling us the best way to handle life is to escape from it as often as you can.  The marketplace is noisy and crowded, but if we get close enough, we can begin to hear a voice distinct from all the others: “Come, all you who are thirsty…Why spend your money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?”

His pitch is unique, unlike any of the others in the marketplace.  His tone is pleading without any trace of manipulation for the sake of profit, like one who knows his idea or product will change lives.  But He is not arrogant or angry, just longing for people in the market to listen.  As foolish as it may seem to many, He really does have what ultimately will satisfy our deepest longings and calm our deepest fears.  If only they will take the time and suspend their doubts long enough to listen.

Today, consider what voices in the marketplace are drawing your attention.  Which voices are gaining your ear?  It is a very noisy place and we can be easily distracted from the one Voice that really matters, the one calling us to a life full of purpose, hope, and ultimate security.  It may not get a lot of attention, but it is the only one that truly matters.

© Jim Musser 2015