Speaking 0f Life...

Billy Graham has often used a phrase to encourage people to accept the redemption we have in Jesus. He says, "Come, just as you are!"

It is a reminder that God sees everything: our best and our worst, and he loves us anyway. The call to come "just as you are" is a reflection of the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 5: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).

Many people today don’t even think in terms of sin. Our modern and postmodern generations tend to think more in terms of a sense of "emptiness," "hopelessness," or "meaninglessness," and often view their inner struggle as being rooted in a low sense of self-worth. They often try to learn to love themselves as a means of becoming loveable, but likely as not, they feel like they are so messed up, so broken, that they can never be well.

But God doesn’t define us by our lacks and our failures; he sees our whole being: the good, the bad and the ugly, and he loves us dearly in spite of everything.

Even though God does not have a hard time loving us, we often have a hard time accepting his love. Deep inside, we know we aren’t worthy of it.

In the 1500s, Martin Luther struggled mightily to live a morally perfect life, but continually found himself failing, and in his frustration he at last discovered freedom in God’s grace. Until then, Luther had identified himself with his sins—and found only despair—instead of identifying himself with Jesus, God’s perfect and beloved Son, who took away the sins of the world, including those of Martin Luther.

In these modern times, even though many people don’t tend to think in terms of sin, they nevertheless have feelings of hopelessness and doubt that create a deep-seated sense of being unlovable. What they need to know is that in spite of their emptiness, despite their worthlessness, God values them and loves them.

God loves you, too. Even though God hates sin, he does not hate you. God loves all people, even sinners, and he hates sin precisely because it hurts and destroys people.

"Come just as you are" means that God is not waiting for you to get better before you come to him. He loves you already, despite what you have done. He has secured a way out of anything and everything that could separate you from him. He has secured your escape from every prison of the human mind and heart.

What is it that holds you back from experiencing the joy of knowing God’s love for you? Whatever it is, why not give that burden to Jesus, who is more than able to carry it for you? •

This article is derived from Speaking of Life, a weekly video program presented by Joseph Tkach on the Worldwide Church of God website. You can watch it online, listen online, or download the video, audio, or text. For all these options, go to www.wcg.org/av/spol.htm.