Just As I Am

The following hymn is one of the hymns that are very memorable to me.  I heard it first in the first summer youth camp I attended and it was this hymn that was being sung when I came forward to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.

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,
Oh 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 and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, 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.

The hymn was composed by Charlotte Elliot of Brighton, England.  She was an embittered woman because of a broken health and her disability had hardened her.  Because of this, she doubted God’s love.  One time, a Swiss minister by the name of Dr. Cesar Malan visited the Elliots and over dinner Charlotte lost her temper and in a violent outburst, railed against God and her family.  So, hoping to help her, Dr. Malan talked to her, saying that he knew that Charlotte was tired of herself, and that she was holding on to her hate and anger because she had nothing to cling to, and because of this, she had become sour, bitter and resentful.  Charlotte asked if there is a cure for this.  In reply, Dr. Malan told her to give herself to God just as she was, with her fightings and fears, hates and loves, pride and shame.  Charlotte asked:  “I would come to God just as I am?  Is that right?”

So Charlotte did come just as she was, and her heart was changed that day.  That was how the most famous invitational hymn  “Just As I Am” was born.  Charlotte lived to be eighty-two years and wrote about 150 hymns, though she never enjoyed good health.  After her death, her loved ones found over a thousand letters from people who expressed their gratitude for the way this hymn had touched their lives.