Come As You Are


            Come as you are; it is a warm, casual invitation. It says, don’t trouble yourself with fancy clothes or preparing a dish to pass, just show up. I have often heard it said that we can come to Jesus as we are and that is true. We are invited to bring ourselves and all our baggage right to the foot of the cross and look up at his amazing love for us. We say, here I am and he looks at us and says welcome. When we view this incredible gift of grace we are encouraged, as we should be.
            Here’s the kicker. Come as you are does not mean stay as you are where Jesus is concerned. All to often we bring ourselves with our baggage to the foot cross, we look up, we say thanks then we turn around, pick up our baggage and walk away again. We miss the point. We come to Jesus for transformation. Perhaps you are familiar with the Transformer toys where a truck can be transformed into a superhero. With Christ we can be transformed into superheroes too. Consider this; a hero saves lives, when we share Jesus with others that is exactly what we are doing, saving lives for eternity!
            Truly meeting Jesus is a transformational experience. It doesn’t happen instantaneously; it is more of a slow shaping process throughout our lives and it is entirely voluntary. We are never forced into God’s will and free to walk away at any time. We follow God’s will out of our great love for him and as we do so, we see his wisdom because we realize following him is the epitome of living our best life now. There are seasons of great peace and joy but also seasons of testing and growth. It is the seasons of testing that lead many to say God doesn’t love them but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Testing isn’t for God to see who we are, he already knows that; it for us to see God in our lives. We also need to consider if what we are going through is a consequence of our own doing. Having God in our lives isn’t a free pass to do as we please and ask for forgiveness later.
            Transformation is different for everyone. You are unique, one of a kind therefore what works for your best friend may not be the same for you.  Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  We are all looking for a cookie cutter answer to our problems in an abstract and varied world. When we seek God’s will over our own, we experience freedom. Admit it, you have many times in any given week when you want someone else to make the decisions needed. Decisions are exhausting. When we hold our choices up to the light of God’s word the decisions become easier. It doesn’t mean we won’t have challenges, but we can have the confidence to know that God is directing and blessing our choices. He is transforming us.
            Come as you are! Absolutely! Jesus welcomes you with his nailed scarred hands open wide. But He isn’t a genie to grant wishes, he is the Savior to guide you into living your best life now. Seek his will and be transformed.
      

           

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