Just As I Am

The story of Charlotte Elliott's protracted struggle against the oppressive power of sin provides a helpful lesson to Christians and non-Christians alike. At an early age, Charlotte began to be aware of her sinful nature and of her impotence to resist sin's enticements. Growing up, Charlotte felt herself increasingly unworthy of God's grace and incapable of facing a perfect and righteous God. She visited many churches and solicited the help of many pastors, all of whom counseled her simply to pray more, to study the Bible more, to perform more noble deeds, and to resolve to do better. However, all the advice she received was unavailing. For seven or eight more years, Charlotte continued struggling in vain against sin, all the while mired in self-condemnation. She experienced at length the despondency of the human condition described in Romans 7:18: “I know that in me…nothing good dwells; for to will [the good] is present with me, but to work out the good is not.”


After some time, Charlotte Elliott met an eminent preacher named Dr. Caesar Malan. This encounter would prove to be a great turning point in Charlotte's life. She asked him, as she had asked many others, how she might be saved. Sensing the enormous burden weighing upon her conscience, Malan responded compassionately, “Go to God just as you are.” Charlotte asked him incredulously, “Do I not have to do better, make more progress, and improve more before I believe in the Lord Jesus?” Malan simply repeated this simple, priceless phrase: “You must come to Him just as you are.” These few liberating words of fellowship had a deep and indelible effect on Charlotte Elliott and would later inspire the composition of her best-known hymn, “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!


Jesus Christ came into the world as the great Physician to call and save sinners (Mark 2:17). And it is when we are the most ill that we need our Physician most desperately. Adam's secondary mistake, following his initial sin of disobedience, was to hide from God's presence, thus forsaking the only Person who could offer him salvation. Maybe aware of this tendency of fallen man, God exhorts us to come forward to Him with boldness that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help (Heb. 4:16). Furthermore, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). Therefore, any feelings of condemnation or unworthiness following a sincere confession which cause us to fear God's presence originate from Satan, "the accuser of our brothers," who accuses us before God day and night (Rev. 12:10). We must realize and believe that our loving Savior sympathizes with the feeling of our weaknesses, for He Himself was likewise tempted (Heb. 4:15). God sees, God knows, God understands, and God has provided a complete solution for our sins through His Son's shed blood. God is waiting for us to come to Him just as we are.

Nee, Watchman. The Christian (1934-40). The Collected Works of Watchman Nee. Vol. 21. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1993. pp. 92-93.