Just As I Am

 

Hermitage Museum

'Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.' Psalms 51:1-2

On the 2nd March 2022, this past Wednesday, Christians observed Ash Wednesday as the beginning of 40 days of contemplative repentance of sins until we all celebrate Easter on Sunday 17 April 2022.

The season of Lent is a practice of the churches for many centuries and attempts to emulate the 40-day period of fasting and prayer of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. The Rt Revd Titus Chung, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Singapore wrote, "Lent, a period of of self-examination and penance leading up to our Easter Day celebration, when we celebrate Christ's resurrection. This is the season in which we can come to grips with our human conditions and emphasises our need for a Saviour." (Ref 1)

Someone from the Old testament went through a similar, personal Lent period, the great King David. The background is David's adultery with Bathsheba. At the height of his glory David fell into a grievious sin. He was idle in Jerusalem having sent his army to battle. It was not the usual experience for David, enjoying the comforts of his palaces while his kingdom was at war. In that idleness, he caught sight of Bathsheba bathing, coveted her and committed adultery. He tried to cover up his sin by recalling the husband Uriah back from battle to sleep with his wife. When this failed, Uriah was sent back to the very heat of battle, wherein he was killed.

The Lord castigated David through the prophet Nathan. David must have spent many days of regret and self-reflection which finally brought him to repent and make a sincere confession of sin.

'Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgression, and my sin is ever before me. Against you and you only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.' Psalm  51:1-4a  

Emeritus Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, Rev (Dr) Robert Solomon spoke on this passage at the Ash Wednesday combined service of Charis and Living Hope Methodist Churches. The Bishop described the Horrors of Sin using three words found in the passage:    

• Sin - which is an offense towards God's Laws. It may heinous act or any offensive behaviour, some even appearing innocuous. 
• Iniquity - which is an inner corruption in every human. Charles Wesley call this a 'bent to sinning' in his hymn, 'Love Divine All Love Excelling.'
• Transgression - which is a rebellion against God, breaking of a vital relationship with God.

The Bishop began his sermon by asking 'What is wrong with the World?' Some, thinking of what's happening in Ukraine these days may say Putin. Others may name equally evil men like Hitler. The Bishop's answer is all of us; all of us is what is wrong with the world. Since time immemorial we have corrupted the world with our sins, our iniquities and our transgressions.

However the Bishop also reminded that the Psalm 51 rendered Hope for Sinners as King David experienced and wrote in his confession.

'Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart and renew a right spirit within me.' Psalm 51:7,9,10

There is a solution for our sinful nature and a hope for sinners

• A cleansing of our sins  
• A creation of a clean heart - a regeneration from our iniquities
• A renewal of our spirits - a relationship that overcomes our transgressions   

You might asked, can David escape from such a heinous act? Can we escape from the clutches of sin? Jesus Saves! Yes, the answer is Jesus made the atonement for our sins as Saint Paul wrote matter-of-factly,

'For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 6:23

In Jesus we will find

• Real Forgiveness
• Lasting Transformation
• Renewed Relationship

The season of Lent will lead us to reflect on repentance and restoration, the same that were found by King David. Eventually Lent will point us to Christ, His death and resurrection. I am reminded of a song sung at the close of every Billy Graham crusade inviting sinners to come forward with repentance and receive restoration, Just As I Am. That song has been updated by Travis Cottrell, I Come Broken - Just As I Am.  

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!

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!

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desperate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned

By the blood of Christ the Lamb

And I'm welcomed with open arms

Praise God, just as I am

Just as I am, I would be lost

But mercy and grace my freedom bought

And now to glory in Your cross

O Lamb of God I come! I come!

I thought we might also ponder over the original lyrics of Just As I Am

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

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!

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt;

Fightings within, and fears without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind;

Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

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!

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Has broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

The Prophet Joel wrote Joel wrote,

'That is why the Lord says, "Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning." Joel 2:12

Lionel

Ref 1: Bishop Titus Chung, in Forward, Up From the Ashes Hope Will Arise, Daily Devotions for Lent 2022, Sower Publications.

Inspired by the Sermon 'Dealing Decisive With Sin' by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon on Ash Wednesday 2 March 2022