Come As You Are: He Turns No One Away

It is impossible for us to “clean up” ourselves before we come to Jesus. We simply do not possess the power within to become righteous. Oh, we may be righteous in our own eyes but there is a big difference in our eyes and in God’s eyes. In the flesh, we all fall very short of the mark. We are told by the Master that there is no one good – not even one. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.  
 
We oftentimes can be so blinded by our own self-righteousness – haughtily comparing ourselves to others as our standard rather than to the Lord and His standard for us. Lifting ourselves too loftily in our own eyes usually brings us down in others – particularly God’s. Thinking too highly of self can often make our audiences an audience of one. Self-absorbed and self-righteous people are as about as pleasant to be around as spoiled milk in the sunshine. To say the least, they do not emit the aroma of Christ. To be sure, we are all big fat sinners in need of a Savior and thank goodness we have One. Therefore, Jesus tells us to come as we are – all wearied and bulging with our burdens and flaws. A believer’s righteousness is not found in themselves or trying harder, rather in Christ Jesus alone. Apart from Him we are all found wanting. In Him we become slaves to righteousness which leads to holiness resulting in eternal life. Apart from Him we remain as we are - slaves to sin and death leading to burdens and weariness of soul and an eternity in hell. he Master’s call is issued to all . It is tender and inviting – and His invitation is universal in its scope.  
 
The Apostle Paul paints a vivid picture of natural man in Romans 7:21-25 (NIV): “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” We wrestle with sin, self and Satan but we become more than conquerors through Christ Jesus Who gives us strength. In His power we can overcome all of these. All we need, He freely gives. Our heavy burdens for His light and easy yoke. “Come,” He says to all – all you got to do is call His Name - none excluded.