Come As You Are

The old rusty wheelbarrow now sits in an area of my yard that I refer to as my secret garden. It is in a spot off to the side that we have left in a natural state and added some bird feeders and other accessories to “pretty it up” so to speak. There is also a bench so that I can sit to watch the birds closely but not so that they are frightened off by my presence. That wheelbarrow has become my favorite addition to my little space.

We were cleaning out the tractor shed when I spied that old thing; it was surrounded by mowers, a boat and some junk. Covered in dirt and dust, cobwebs and remnants of a nest of some kind I immediately knew it was what I needed in my special place! Brooks pulled it out for me and as we cleaned it up a bit he told me he wasn’t sure how old it was and it might have even been used at the sawmill before the family’s company went out of business some forty plus years ago.

I have had that wheelbarrow on my mind since that day, thinking about how we are like it. Pushed out of sight or mind, covered with a layer of dust so much so that it would seem that we like that old wheelbarrow aren’t much good. But God! Just as I saw potential in the old push buggy just as it is, so our heavenly Father sees us – just as we are!

We can never clean up enough or live good enough to be a child of God on our own. He takes us just as we are and changes us to fit his plan for our lives. I have given the old, well used and somewhat rusty wheelbarrow a new life, a new purpose. When we give our lives to Jesus we too are given a new life and purpose; for His kingdom. John 6:37, tells us this: “Everyone whom the Father gives to me will come to me, and I won’t send away anyone who comes to me.” (CEB)

It is by grace we have been saved, through faith—and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God. The good news is Jesus accepts us just as we are.

Matthew McDonald gives an excellent example in this statement: “When Oliver Cromwell had his portrait painted. It looked perfect, without flaw. However Oliver Cromwell was not happy as it was not a true reflection of his likeness. He had it done again, he said to the artist” Paint me warts and all! I want to people take me as I am, to accept me, for being me."

When we come to Jesus, he sees us as we are, and accepts us. Warts and all, our sinful way of life, our tainted past.

We all have a sinful and tainted past, but there is hope! Take a look at this verse in Isaiah: “Come now and let’s settle this, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow. If they are red as crimson, they will become like wool.” (CEB)

Meditate on the words of the hymn by Charlotte Elliott, Just As I Am, as we close today.

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