Just as I am

Often we find ourselves concerned with how we appear before God. Indeed lots of people have gone to great lengths to try and appear the best they can before Him.
Who can blame them? God is the most important entity in existence to Christians so it is hardly surprising that everyone tries to put on their best face, clothes (“Sunday best”) and character when they think that He is watching. I’ve seen people do seemingly ludicrous dances in the name of God. Others chose particularly noticeable apparel while yet others change their body appearances through distinct hair styles and in some extreme cases pierced their skins to hang odd objects and draw fascinating shapes.

This is not a new concept because even in the Bible we find

10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto my people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, 11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:10-11

People were required to perform certain activities or refrain from some activities so that they could be clean enough for God to appear to them. In this case they had to wash their clothes, abstain from touching the mountain and refrain from sexual activities.

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A long time ago a woman who had been made permanently invalid by long severe illness was challenged by a doctor to seek God’s salvation in her life. She brushed away the suggestion at first but it kept playing on her mind. Until, on one of the meetings with the doctor, she asked him, “I want to be saved. I want to come to Jesus; but I don't know how”. He said to her, “You have only to come to Him just as you are”. These words seeded the theme that would form the popular hymn “Just as I am”. There have been many variations to it since Miss Charlotte Elliot wrote it way back in 1835 but I have decided to write about the abridged and edited version by the Acappella Company © 1994 Clifty Music. You can refer to Cyber Hymnal for the full six stanza version.  

Just as I am without one plea
But that thy blood was shed for me
And that thou bid’st me come

The first verses simplify to, “Just as I am without any defence except that your blood was shed for me and that you called me to come to you”.
So the singer is approaching God without any excuses for themselves. The only reason they have the courage to approach is that the Lord’s blood was shed for them and that God asked them to come.

Already we can see differences between this scenario and the one at Mount Sinai. For starters, here the singer is going to God whereas at Sinai, it was God coming to meet the people. Interesting to note that people are not expected to approach God out of their own will. It is God who makes it easy by calling them to Him. All we are asked to do is answer the call. In this scenario the person called state that they are answering the call and coming to Him. But they are making it clear from the start they don’t have any pleas to present for themselves.

Often God calls us  but we fail to answer because we don’t think it is appropriate for us to approach Him with our sinful bodies and minds. We try to wait until we have something to say for ourselves, some good deed that we can perform at some later point or something to give Him when we approach so that we don’t feel so bad. At least we can then say, “I know I did many bad things, but at least I helped so and so that day ...”. Anything that might help us in our defence.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Even when we become Christians we show similar behaviour. When we have done something wrong we try to avoid anything that has something to do with God. Some people skip church (or church gatherings) after committing a sin. Others skip an otherwise regular prayer. “I can't watch that Gospel channel like this”, we say and flip to the next channel. 
The thought of the sinful deed is so strong that it makes us uncomfortable among religious surroundings. We feel that we cannot face God in our current state.
 Yet the singer says that all they know is that the blood was shed and God is calling them. And therefore they will come to Him.

I’m not that strong my hands are unclean
And my heart sometimes fills with sins unseen

This is unlike some people who are actually so bold in sin that they try to hide their sins when they approach God, or should I say when they attend religious gatherings. So many stories have been told and printed. Of Pastors, worship leaders and priests whose sinful deeds have been exposed before the public. Sins committed in a time when they were supposedly serving God. Pride would have made it difficult for them to confess their sins to others and to God. Many more just go on with their habits undiscovered by people. They just continue in their position of authority and hope that no one will find out.

Even those of us without any position of authority can be guilty of this. Just cover up the deeds and keep up appearances at meetings. Too shy to tell others or ask for help. Unaware that this leads to addiction because the greatest sign of addiction is denial of the addiction.
The singer does not try to hide their sin when they approach. They immediately admit their lack of strength and state that their heart sometimes fills with unseen sins. This is a complete confession in that it acknowledges sins that the confessor may have committed but does not necessarily know about. Job gave us an example by offering sacrifices for his sons when they feasted saying, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts”. We are told that he did this continually.

And yet, He bids, O He pleads

Even in that state they still hear God calling them because God calls everyone. This is difficult for unbelievers to understand sometimes. Hence they avoid the call. The singer mentions this

But I can’t understand why He loves me
Yet I Come

It is can be difficult to believe that God can call you sometimes. "Really me? No way. It can’t be God calling me like this. Not while I'm in this state anyway. God is not for sinners like me". And we move on.

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world 1 John 2:2

The singer though, simply acknowledges that they don’t understand much about God’s Love and why He bestows it on them in their state. Yet they will come to Him. What follows was not in Miss Elliot's original hymn but the simplicity and beauty of the words match those of the original.

Nobody knows me better than you Lord
I guess because you see beyond my pretences
Beyond what I see, and what I do
Before you my heart seems to be an open book
Exposed and uncovered
You not only see who I am, but who I can be
Yet inspite of my frailties
You accept me, just the way I am
How do I say thank you.

The words give insight as to why the singer decided to answer the call. They figured that God being omnipresent and powerful and all, knows them more than anyone does. Even when they pretend to people, God can see though all the pretences. Even if they could hide their heart from people, before God their heart is just an open book. The Lion of the tribe of Juda has prevailed to open the book of their lives.

Even more beautiful though is that the singer realizes that God can see who they can be. The fullness of their potential. This has always been a great mystery to me. What am I really capable of achieving? What are my limits? I have thought up plans big and small. Some I have followed up and been easily successful.  Others I have tried to put into action and failed miserably. The failures lead me into dismissing thoughts of pursuing other seemingly bigger plans. Yet they always played on my mind. What if I had applied for that Job? What if I had pursued that project? How far would I have gone with it? What really is my full potential?
This is what God knows all too well. He knows our every strength and weakness. What we are able to achieve at our fullest strength. That is why, inspite of our frailties, he still loves us and calls us to come to Him just as we are.

Just as I am
Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down
Now to be Thine yet Thine
O Lord O Lamb of God I come

Those barriers of sin that told us we couldn't approach God have been swept away by God's love through His son Jesus. Now everyone is able to meet Him. We no longer need to perform certain activities to make us worthy of salvation. Even  just the way we are is good enough for Him. No excuses or explanation required. His blood alone is sufficient.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ....8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us Romans 5: 6-8