This morning one of my favorite songs came on the radio, “Come as You Are” by Crowder. This song says, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal, so lay down your burdens, lay down your shame, all who are broken, lift up your face. Oh wanderer come home, you’re not too far. Lay down your hurt, lay down your heart, come as you are.” God doesn’t say to us to come to Him when we are whole; He says, “Come to me when you’re broken and I will make you whole.” God doesn’t say to us to come to Him when we’re living right, but He says to come to Him in our sin, repent, believe on His Son, and He will help us live right. He doesn’t say to come to Him when we are full and quenched, but He says, “Come to me when you’re hungry and thirsty and I will fill you.” He doesn’t say to come to Him when we are well; He says, “Come to me when you’re sick and I will heal you.” I’m thankful today for all of these promises, that I can come to Him in whatever state I find myself. There’s an old hymn I thought of—page 44 in the red back hymnal—“Come Unto Me.” Here’s a few lines from it:
Hear the blessed Savior calling the oppressed,
“O ye heavy laden, come to me and rest.
Come, no longer tarry, I your load will bear,
Bring me every burden, bring me every care.”Are you disappointed, wandering here and there,
Dragging chains of doubt and loaded down with care?
Do unholy feelings struggle in your breast?
Bring your case to Jesus, He will give you rest.
Stumbling on the mountains dark with sin and shame,
Stumbling toward the pit of hells consuming flame,
By the power of sin deluded and oppressed?
Hear the tender Shepard, “Come to me and rest.”Have you cares of business, cares of pressing debt?
Cares of social life or cares of hope unmet?
Are you by remorse or sense of guilt oppressed?
Come right on to Jesus, He will give you rest.Have you by temptation often conquered been?
Has a sense of weakness brought distress within?
Christ will sanctify you, if you’ll claim His best,
In the Holy Spirit He will give you rest.
Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
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