Coming to Christ

Before I saw Christ, oh, how I feared to come to God! He was holy and I was sinful. He was righteous and I was guilty. He was wrathful and I was a child of wrath, deserving of every eternal torment. But then God’s merciful Spirit opened my eyes to the King of Glory, and my heart was changed forever. Before, I had seen every reason to flee from God, and was overcome with despair at the realization that I could not escape his presence. Afterwards, I saw every reason to come to God, and found no other delight than that I could never be out of his sight. Jesus changed my perspective entirely, so that what had been my misery and despair became my only joy and unshakeable hope. I found in him every reason to come to God, and no reason to forbear.

I am sinful: but Jesus Christ forgives sinners! I am impure: but Jesus sanctifies me! I am helpless: but Jesus is help and hope, with divine power that all the demons in hell cannot overcome. When I am tired, Jesus is rest. When I am confused, Jesus is understanding. When I am weak, Jesus is strength. When I am in doubt, he is confidence itself.

Jesus shows forth in his matchless person every reason to come to him, and no reason to flee away. If I should fear his terrible greatness, I find him meek and lowly more than any man. He opened not his mouth when his adversaries raged against him, except to cry out for their forgiveness. He asks not any merit or any good thing that I could offer, but takes the despised and rejected, the lowly and sinful, the scorned and the helpless, while turning away the arrogant and oppressive. If I should tremble before the wrath of God, he has quenched it all. If I should abhor my unworthiness, he offers his own surpassing worth in its stead.

What can there be that I could ever need or desire that Jesus does not fulfill beyond my wildest dreams? I am a weak and trembling beggar, but Jesus comes to me in compassion, offering me every good thing I could never dare to ask for myself. I am unable to change myself, but Jesus offers to change me into his own image. I am mortal, already feeling the sad results of time and depravity in my failing body, but Jesus provides the eternal life for which I was made. I am sin, but he offers grace. I am guilt, but he offers forgiveness. I am overcome, but he offers victory. I am all things bad, but he promises all things good.

Jesus is meek, lowly, humble, unterrifying, so that the most fearful, base, sinful and unworthy man may come to him with confidence. He is strong, prevailing, powerful, unconquerable, so that he can save indeed all who have fled to him for refuge. He is righteous, holy, unreproveable, just, so that he can offer an acceptable plea to the Father. He is great, majestic, eternal, infinite, so that he can thrill forever the souls of them who are seeking meaning and satisfaction. He is everything I could desire or need, and nothing I could ever despise or be indifferent toward. Oh, what a Savior is my Jesus! To have him is life itself, and joy and satisfaction for all the ages. To ignore him is every misery of sin and hell, and all the punishment that all the sins of all the ages could ever merit. Oh, let me flee to my Savior! Where else can I go?

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