Come, ye weary, heavy laden, bruised and broken by the fall,
If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all.
Not the righteous- sinners Jesus came to call.
Venture on Him, venture wholly, let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good.
-Joseph Hart
In modern vernacular, Joseph Hart was talking about having a come to Jesus moment.
I love this poem. This is one stanza of a hymn written in the 1700s. The lyrics are very powerful and rather convicting-whether as a saved, or unsaved, sinner.
This poem points out two issues. We either feel we have no problems and thus we don't really need Jesus right this minute. Life is clicking along just fine. I've got this handled pretty well by myself, thank you very much. That's the righteous of the poem.
Reminds me of the Laodiceans...because you say, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," but you know not that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17)
Either that or its that we feel the need to get our junk taken care of before we come. Our bruised and brokenness, burdens and general weariness. Jesus doesn't want me like this.
The fact of the matter is that we need Jesus whether we are willing to admit our need or not. If we think we don't need Him, we are deluding ourselves.
If we don't admit our need for Jesus in whatever condition we are in-"fine" or needy, we will never come to Him.
If you tarry 'til you're better, you will never come at all.
And never coming, that's a tragedy.
Come.
Approach. Draw near.
It's such a peaceful word. Compelling. Strong. Comforting.
When Jesus says come, it is to approach Him. He's there. He's the difference to our issues.
He doesn't ask us to clean up our act first. It's the idea of pouring out our heart's questions to God. He already knows the deepest, darkest thoughts that we are unwilling to even admit to ourselves. We come, He works.
Getting our junk in order is not a qualification that precedes our coming to Jesus. Actually, getting our junk in order precludes our coming to Jesus.
Coming is an act of grace. There's nothing I can do to earn this love. This relationship. I don't deserve this help. This healing. It's all Him, not me.
I come, hands held out, full of my issues. I come, hands held out, empty of any solutions. I come, placing all my eggs in one basket, not hedging my bets. I come venturing everything on Him and His abundant and abounding grace.
Come to Me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Come, let us return to the Lord.
If any man thirsts, let him come unto Me, and drink.
Come, let us reason together, with the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Come.
Have you come? Will you come?
