It’s all free ∙∙∙
Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink – even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk – it’s all free! – Isaiah 55:1
Isaiah 55:1-3
1 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live
John 7:37-38
37 Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!
38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
The Church of the Open Door
In 1915, R.A. Torrey founded the Church of the Open Door with a bold vision: to reach the people of Los Angeles with the message of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church’s 4,000-seat auditorium, located on Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles, became a beacon of hope. It housed a Bible institute, which is now Biola University, modeled after the Moody Bible Institute. Its purpose was clear: to bring the gospel to a city in need.
The Iconic “JESUS SAVES” Signs
Atop the 15-story building were towering signs, three stories tall, proclaiming “JESUS SAVES” to the city below. These signs, visible from the surrounding freeways, became a symbol of the church’s mission. Beneath the bold declaration of salvation, smaller text read “Free Food,” inviting the hungry and homeless to come and be fed. The church didn’t just preach the gospel; it put its beliefs into action by offering both physical nourishment and spiritual fulfillment to those in need.
Even after the original building was demolished following damage from the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, the legacy of the “JESUS SAVES” signs continued. One of the historic signs now stands atop the Ace Hotel Los Angeles, serving as a reminder of the church’s enduring impact.
Feeding the Body and the Soul
The Church of the Open Door became a refuge for the hungry and homeless, drawing people from miles around for a meal. However, they left with more than just full stomachs; they departed with full hearts and nourished souls. The church’s mission reflected the heart of the Father, who offers not only physical sustenance but something far greater: the fulfillment of our deepest longings.
The Father’s Extraordinary Offer
God’s invitation is unlike any other. He offers to meet the deepest needs of humanity,
not at a cost, but freely, through His grace. Isaiah 55:1 beautifully illustrates this: “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.” This is the Father’s offer: to “buy” what is essentially free and to receive what only He can provide.
This offer goes beyond merely quenching physical thirst. It satisfies the longings of the human heart, the ache, the emptiness, and the yearning for something more. Most people are unaware of what they are genuinely searching for, but the Father understands. He created us and knows exactly what is missing in our lives.
The God-Shaped Vacuum
Solomon understood this truth in Ecclesiastes 3:11 when he wrote, “God has planted eternity in the human heart.” There is a longing inside us that nothing in this world can satisfy. Blaise Pascal, the great mathematician and philosopher, called it a “God-shaped vacuum” in every human heart, a void that only God Himself can fill.
We try to fill this emptiness with success, relationships, possessions, or distractions, but nothing truly satisfies. Only the Creator, revealed through Jesus Christ, can meet the deepest desires of our souls. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said in John 4:14: “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
REFLECT & PRAY
Because God designed us for an intimate relationship with Him, nothing else can truly satisfy. The Church of the Open Door understood this, offering not just food for the body but the Bread of Life for the soul. Their mission reminds us of our own calling: to share the Father’s extraordinary offer with a world that is hungry and thirsty for something real.
Father, for so many years, I searched for something to fill the ache within me. The hunger was intense, and the thirst overwhelming. Thank You for revealing the truth that only You can satisfy. Your presence fills the void in my heart and overflows with joy and peace. Help me share this truth with others, so they, too, may find the satisfaction only You can give.
INSIGHT
A Banquet for the Penniless
Would it be unkind to invite someone without money to a lavish banquet? How could they possibly afford it? Yet, this is precisely what the Father does in an act of pure grace. He invites everyone, regardless of their resources or status, to partake in a feast that costs them nothing but offers everything. This is no ordinary meal; it is a banquet of abundance, freely given to satisfy the deepest needs of the human soul.
Isaiah 55:1-2 illustrates this beautifully: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”
A Call to True Satisfaction
The Father’s invitation is not merely about physical nourishment; it is a call to something far greater. For the exiles in Babylon, it served as a plea to turn away from the empty promises of a seductive culture and to instead drink deeply from the wells of salvation. The waters symbolize life itself, while the milk and wine represent abundance and joy. This call was not limited to Israel; it extended to all nations, inviting everyone to experience the richness of God’s grace.
However, a question remains: Why do so many people labor for things that do not satisfy? Why do we invest our time, energy, and resources into pursuits that leave us feeling empty? This struggle is timeless. We chase after fleeting pleasures, only to experience the sting of regret when they fail to fulfill us. The Father’s invitation stands in stark contrast: it is a free gift that satisfies forever.
The Source of Living Water
Jesus echoes this invitation in John 7:37-38: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
In this passage, Jesus presents Himself as the ultimate source of satisfaction. The “living water” He offers symbolizes the Holy Spirit, who fills and sustains those who believe in Him. This gift is not merely a temporary solution or a fleeting pleasure; it provides deep, lasting fulfillment that quells our spiritual and emotional thirst.
The Absurdity of Rejecting Grace
Imagine spending your life chasing after things that don’t truly satisfy, while rejecting the one thing that does. It’s like working for bread that doesn’t nourish you, all the while turning down a free feast. Yet, this is the reality for many. We often find ourselves drawn to what is immediate and tangible, even if it leaves us feeling empty, while neglecting the eternal satisfaction that only Christ can provide.
The Father’s question is simple, yet profound: “Who satisfies your soul?” This question cuts through the noise of our busy lives and challenges us to reflect on what we’re truly living for. Are we pursuing things that leave us feeling empty, or are we embracing the free gift of grace that fills us?
What’s in Your Soul?
Jennifer Garner’s famous question, “What’s in your wallet?” challenges us to think about what we carry with us. But the Father’s question goes deeper: “Who satisfies your soul?” It’s not about what we have, but about who we trust to meet our deepest needs. The world offers countless substitutes, but only Jesus provides the living water that truly satisfies.
The Father’s invitation is extended to everyone. It’s not about earning or deserving; it’s about receiving. So, what are you pursuing? What are you working hard for? And most importantly, who truly satisfies your soul? The banquet is prepared, the invitation is offered, and the cost has already been covered. Will you come?
The legacy of the Church of the Open Door serves as a powerful reminder of what it means to live out the gospel. Just like the “JESUS SAVES” signs that once illuminated the Los Angeles skyline, may our lives radiate the message of hope and grace, guiding others to the One who truly satisfies.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 