Throughout our lives, we receive all kinds of invitations – to meals or coffee, to dinners, to parties, meetings, vacations, outings, and dates, etc. Some of these invites are expected while others surprise us, or even leave us speechless. Many fill us with anticipation and excitement as we prepare – we plan for hours, days, even weeks in advance as we like to be sure we are fully prepared and ready on time. Then, we carefully pick out what we will wear – we shower and shave, meticulously fix our face and hair – all in an effort to look our best for each occasion.
Still, there is one invitation we do not have to prepare for, in fact many of us are astounded when the still, small voice of Almighty God, calls us to Himself. When this invitation comes, we do not need to get ready – although some of us will, nevertheless, try. For God calls us by name to simply come as we are – to run into His arms and allow Him to make us whole. For He loves to receive and prepare us, to clean us up by extending His grace and forgiveness through His only son, Jesus Christ, who already paid the price and washed away all of our sin and shame – our filth and our dirt. We need only to accept His grace into our own life and heart!
One of the clearest, most familiar (and oldest), of hymns to extend this invitation is Just As I Am. The author, Charlotte Elliot (1789-1871) was a writer of hymns and poetry and a lover of God and music. Just As I Am was written in response to her own searching for answers in the struggle she herself experienced in coming to Christ and needing (in her own words) a “formulae of faith.”
I cannot sing or hear this hymn without thinking about the crusades that made it so familiar the world over. Just As I Am was sung at Billy Graham Crusades for decades during altar calls inviting those in attendance to come to Christ. Encouraging them to lay aside many a conflict, many a doubt and respond through heartfelt emotion with O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
We read that millions have found comfort in the words of this hymn, and hundreds of thousands have surrendered their lives to Christ as a result of these altar calls. Still, at one point, in response to criticism, the Rev. Graham decided to do a ‘test’ and have altar calls without the singing of Just As I Am for he wanted to be sure people were being called by the spirit of God vs. being stirred by the music. Check out this video for the results!
May you, too, respond with fullness of heart when you receive that Divine invitation to follow Him – the One who created you and loves you beyond measure! Come, just as you are, and allow Him to make you whole!
Blessings!
Just As I Am
(By Charlotte Elliot 1842)
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am! Thy love unknown Hath broken every barrier down; Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Sources: Internet: Hymnary.org / YouTube Commentary / Mission Praises #134