Experiences with God

"Just come as you are!" It's a reminder that God sees everything: our best and our worst, and He loves us nonetheless. The call to simply come as you are reflects the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans: "For while we were still weak, Christ died for the ungodly. Now it is rare for someone to die for a righteous person—though for something good someone might risk their life—but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Röm 5,6-8).

Many people today don't even think in terms of sin. Our modern and postmodern generation thinks more in terms of a feeling of “emptiness”, “hopelessness” or “futility”, and they see the cause of their inner struggle in a feeling of inferiority. They may try to love themselves as a means of becoming adorable, but more likely than not, they feel that they are completely worn out, broken, and that they will never be whole again.

But God doesn't define us by our shortcomings and failures; He sees our whole lives: the good, the bad, the ugly, and He loves us nonetheless. Even though God doesn't find it difficult to love us, we often struggle to accept that love. Deep down, we know we are unworthy of it. In the 15th century, Martin fought a fierce battle to live a morally perfect life, but he constantly found himself failing, and in his frustration, he finally discovered freedom in God's grace. Until then, he had identified with his sins—and found only despair—instead of identifying with Jesus, God's perfect and beloved Son, who took away the sins of the world, including his own.

Even today, many people, even though they do not think in categories of sin, still have feelings of hopelessness and are full of doubts, which cause a deep feeling that one is not lovable. What they need to know is that God appreciates and loves them despite their emptiness, despite their worthlessness. God loves you too. Even if God hates sin, he does not hate you. God loves all people, even sinners, and he hates sin precisely because it hurts and destroys people.

"Come just as you are" means that God doesn't wait for you to get better before you come to him. He already loves you despite everything you've done. He has ensured a way out of anything that might separate you from Him. He has ensured your escape from every prison of the human mind and heart.

What is it that holds you back from experiencing the love of God? Whatever it is, why do you not give this burden to Jesus, who is more than capable of carrying it for you?

by Joseph Tkach