Come as you are--think about that for a minute. If going on a date you may primp and take extra time to make yourself ready. When attending a wedding as I did this past weekend, we dress up a little bit more than usual. However, if you run to the grocery store (unless you are my friend Lani) do you get dressed up or do you go as you are? How about for work--do you have a uniform? suit and tie? Depending on the situation or circumstance you prepare accordingly. But God, tells us to come as we are. He doesn't expect us to get 'cleaned up' first. He knows who we are at our worst and our best. Even our very best would not come close to being 'good enough'. Matthew 11:28 Jesus tells us “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. We become weary when we try to carry burdens (shame, adultery, failed marriages, abortions, lust, pride,etc.) that Christ has already died for. There is no sin that you have committed (or will commit in the future by the way) that He did not already die for.
Years ago I was under the misconception that I had to get my act together or 'clean up' before I could come to God. The irony of that thinking is that if it were up to my own ability I would have never been saved. Christ dying on the cross would have been in vain. His whole purpose for coming to earth, living a perfect life, dying a horrible death and rising again on the third day was to restore me to relationship with God. There is nothing I can do to restore this relationship on my own but I must humbly come as I am to Christ surrendering all to Him.
As we hold onto things that Christ asks us to give Him our hearts become hardened as stone. Ezekiel 36:26 says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Solomon, the king granted wisdom above all others knew the importnace of guarding our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us how to guard our hearts. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Guarding our heart is crucial for God to make us new and restore us. Whatever is on your heart at this very moment, give it over to God; ask Him to remove it and fill it with His spirit. Ask Him to enlarge your heart. Be willing to come to Him as you are--don't attempt to clean up first.
He makes all things new - including you and I. I now live Psalms 84:2--My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. My you come as you are and yearn for the Lord as never before.
As I sat turning the pages of my Bible recently I was overwhelmed by a thought of how sacred and holy the words were on the pages. It is a privledge and joy to have it to read, to meditate and to understand; it was quite moving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U-MSwd6zMU
Come As You Are - Pocket Full of Rocks
