Yesterday I took some time to rest in the sun. It’s not something I do very often but when I do I find that I feel totally relax and refreshed in about thirty minutes. Too keep out the distractions I generally listen to Country Gospel music on Pandora. There’s just something about the old hymns of the faith that encourage my heart.
Well, yesterday I was not disappointed. One of the first songs that came on was a childhood favorite.
“Just As I Am”
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
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, 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, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
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!
This song was written in 1835. I hope you don’t have trouble with the old English because the words are powerful. Here is a person on trial – they come without a plea, guilty or not guilty. Life has been unkind and there is absolutely no reason that the judge, our heavenly Father, should be merciful but He is!
“There is a lot of difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God’s gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times. 17 Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings. 18 Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life.” Romans 5:16-18 CEV
Our defendant is poor, blind and emotionally distressed. Their life needs cleansing; so many charges have been leveed against them. They come seeking healing and help. Standing before the judge’s bench, waiting for the gavel to drop and sentence to be issued, they come. We come!
The Judge is ready to pronounce His verdict. He looks at the defendant, “what do you have to say for yourself?” – “Judge, I am without excuse. I deserve the harshest penalty. I am a sinner but I come today and ask for mercy. I come to the throne of grace.”
The Judge glances down at the papers before Him. He shuffles them, searching the pages. He looks up with a loving smile and says “I find no charges here, they are gone. They’ve been removed. My Son paid the price.”
“You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.14 God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. 15 There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.” Colossians 2:13-15 CEV
This is what the song writer knew when he wrote the last verse of this song. We have been received by the Father – we are welcome, pardoned, cleansed, and relieved of sin. We are made right in His sight.
And the final verdict is given as the Judge drops the gavel; “All charges have been dropped, forgiveness is yours and new life has been given.
Like the defendant and the song writer, to receive forgiveness and new life in Christ we say, “Oh, Lamb of God I come”!