For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in
the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2)
Toady’s hymn is one of simple beauty and heavenly grandeur. It has been the
instrument whereby many lost souls have turned loose the doubts and treasures
of the world, and its burdens, and come to Christ in repentance. The hymn is
sung n many evangelistic churches as a closing appeal to any who may be holding
out, for whatever reason, from accepting the Lord Jesus Christ. It was actually
written by one to whom the hymn was intended to appeal. Coming from a family of
clergymen, Charlotte Elliot did not have an assurance of her salvation. She
was, for most of her life, unhealthy and unable to get about. She suffered much
pain. Often, when the subject of her salvation was raised, she would abruptly
avoid discussion of the matter.
Charlotte wrote the five verses to "Just As I Am" in 1834
William B. Bradbury composed music for her lyrics and published the song in
1849. One can feel the strong beckoning of Christ to all who are lost, forlorn,
and thirsty for the Water of Life in both the tune and the lyrics of this
simple hymn. Dr. John Julian wrote this account of how the hymn came to be
written: “(Charlotte) was in poor health and often harassed with severe
pain, which tended to make her irritable. A severe illness had left her a
permanent invalid. She resented the question thus pointedly put, and petulantly
answered that religion was a matter she did not wish to discuss. Dr. Malan
replied in his usual kind manner, that he would not pursue a subject that
displeased her, but would pray that she might give her heart to Christ, and
employ in His service the talents with which He had gifted her. It seems that
the Holy Spirit used her abrupt and almost rude conduct towards God's servant
to show her what depths of pride and alienation from God were in her heart.
After several days of spiritual misery, she apologised for her unbecoming
conduct, and confessed that his question had troubled her greatly. "I am
miserable" she said, "I want to be saved. I want to come to Jesus;
but I don't know how". "Why not come just as you are?", answered
Malan. "You have only to come to Him just as you are".”
This hymn has been translated into many languages all over the world. Tens of
thousands of people have committed their lives to Christ during the playing of
this hymn.
Just as I Am, Without One Plea
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, 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.
Just as I am, thy love unknown
has broken every barrier down;
now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
the breadth, length, depth, and height to
prove,
here for a season, then above:
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
“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.”
The opening phrase, “Just as I am,” leads the opening line
of each of the seven verses of this hymn. It reminds us that the sinner cannot
turn and make himself acceptable to God, but must be quickened by the Holy
Ghost. We cannot become “good enough” to come to Christ. We must come as we
are. But once we have come, we do not REMAIN as we were! We leave the sin and
lust of the world behind and take up the plow and reins of the Christian walk.
We must readily acknowledge that a visible (and invisible) change takes place when
one comes to Christ. The change is VISIBLE in the way we walk, talk, think, and
act. The INVISIBLE change takes place in the dark and hidden chambers of our
hearts as Christ begins to expunge those things that are hateful and contrary
to our joy, and replace them with love and faith.
There was a half-dressed woman drug before the Lord one day at the Temple by
the cruel and power-mongering Jewish leaders. She had been taken in adultery –
in the very act – yet only the woman was brought to Christ since the Jewish
leaders, even in that day, were politically correct. She was brought, JUST AS
SHE WAS, to Christ by those who meant her only pain, death, and humiliation.
These hateful clerics intended the greatest harm to the woman, but they unwittingly
brought her to the One who could, and would, do her the most good – the Lord
Jesus Christ. As the calls rang out for her stoning, she dared not raise her
head for terror and shame. Yet, she heard the distinct contradiction in voices
calling for her ruin, and another calm and loving voice simply stating a simple
challenge to cast the first stone. The woman could offer not a single word in
her defense – she was caught, as you and I were, in her sins – red-handed. She
did not at first come to Christ, but was dragged there by her enemies who
sought her death. But at last, a great hook (made of solid love) was placed in
her heart and she KNEW – she KNEW who this great Personage was who had become
her Advocate and Savior. The only one present who had the authority to condemn
the woman did not do so, but freely forgave her and said, “Go, and sin no more.” We do not usually
stumble at the forgiven part, but almost always at the “Go and sin no more” part. We must come as
we are, but leave as new creatures in Christ.
“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.” Do we linger at the brink of glory for reason of pride or
desire? Why wait? Will we be better suited for salvation tomorrow? I think the
longer we live in sinner, the greater sinner we become. Why not come to the
Lord now while life endures and the seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter
continue. Perhaps we have a great sin that seems impossible to overcome
(one dark blot), and we hope that we can, after some time, overcome this great
sword to the flesh. I can tell you that such a victory, apart from Christ, is
not possible. It is the blood of Christ that can cleanse us through and through
and none of our cheap detergents can avail. It is Christ who is the Lamb of god
– that perfect Passover sacrifice that enables us to live in that day when the
Angel of Death passes over the souls of men as in Goshen of Egypt.
“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.” The
world itself is a stormy place. The winds and tempest arise without warning,
and our sails may be empty in the dead of that sea. Every doubt and fear
hinders our voyage and may even cause shipwreck. The storms of the sea are
demonstrated in the raging waters beneath and stormy billows above. All seems
to be submerging our souls beneath the turbid waters of life. Peter was not in
his best condition as he was sinking beneath the waters of Galilee, and when
the waters covered his soul. He had no time to rehearse a sophisticated and
eloquent prayer. He only had time to cry out “Lord, save me.”
(Matt 14:30) There
have been moments in prayer groups in which I wish I could hear that simple and
desperate prayer.
“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.”
Only when we know that we are poor, wretched, and blind, can we call on the
Lord for help from the mire that we have created. We see our total depravity
and His total Righteousness. We know that He is able if He is willing….and He
is willing at every moment! He is our all in all, and will make us new in
Himself. Our minds, our hearts, our tongues, our families …… all new! But we
cannot return, as a dog to its vomit, or as a pig to wallow in the mire once we
have been washed by the blood of Christ. There is no blindness so stark as
spiritual blindness – a blindness to the Lord of Glory! But no man or woman can
remain blind in the Presence of the Lord! “Then the eyes of the blind
shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” (Isaiah
35:5)
“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.”
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to
me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) Strong qualification there – “in no wise cast out.” There is nothing
under the sun that would cause the Lord to cast out any who come unto Him; and
no one comes but by calling and approbation of God. He will relieve us of our
heavy burden; He will pardon all sin; He will cleanse from inside to outside;
and all He does because of our faith in believing in the Lamb of God.
“Just as I am, thy love unknown has broken every barrier down; now to
be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
Who can know the breadth, the depth, and the width of the Love of God? Truly,
His love is three dimensional in every direction, and those three dimensions are
infinite in magnitude. Christ has broken down the Gates of Hell and Death. He
has become the Door through which we, as His lambs, must pass into green
pastures and still waters. When we belong to Christ, we can only belong without
reservation. Our hearts, minds, hands, and all belong to Christ. And, if we
belong to Christ, He becomes OURS as well.
“Just as I am, of that free love the breadth, length, depth, and
height to prove, here for a season, then above: O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
All that belongs to the heart of Jesus on earth will enjoy a safe haven in
heaven as well. That love of God is of such great proportion that our
imaginations cannot comprehend its borders. That love is stronger than death;
in fact, stronger power does not exist. “For I am persuaded, that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8:38-39) That love of God is reciprocated in the heart of the believer
because He loved us first. It is the wine of love that causes our cups to run
over. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) “We
love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) In order that we
come to the Lord, we must leave our self-wills in the dust of the earth.
