JUST AS I AM

This week's hymn brings back many vivid memories of altar calls in church, in camp meetings, and especially in Billy Graham evangelistic campaigns.  It was during the singing of this hymn that thousands came forward to meet Christ and have their lives changed by his power and grace.  Billy Graham claims that he was saved in 1934 in a revival meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina led by evangelist Mordecai Ham hearing the altar call song "Just As I Am". This song became an altar call song in the Billy Graham crusades in the latter half of the twentieth century and those of us who followed these crusades, while growing up, just automatically associate it with those huge meetings.  The words were written by Charlotte Elliott after a time of spiritual conflict during which she questioned the reality of her whole spiritual life.  She wondered if it was all just an illusion of the emotions. After a night of restlessness she took a pen and paper and set down in writing, for her own comfort, "the formulae of her faith."  So in verse she restated to herself the Gospel of pardon, peace and heaven.  "Probably without difficulty or long pause" she wrote the hymn, getting comfort by recollecting the eternity of the Rock beneath her feet.  So out of her spiritual conflict and resolution came the words that have meant so much individually to thousands since that time.  However, while we normally associate this hymn with coming to Christ to secure salvation, I have come to see it in another light.  I recently heard of a pastor who asked that during his final hours of life that this hymn be played over and over for him.  Until then I never thought of this being a hymn that should be our testimony as we face eternity.  For in those moments we will have nothing else for our plea but what the Lamb of God has done for me.  And in our final days and hours we come to Him with nothing else, nothing that we have done or even could have done to gain His merit.  Our only plea as we enter His presence will be His blood that was shed for us.  As we come to Him may we say O lamb of God, I come - without one plea, I come.

(1)   Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

(2)   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.

(3)   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.

(4)   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.

(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.

(6)   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.

Listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN