The great old hymn Just As I Am has blessed millions over the years. Billy Graham used it for decades to close his crusades. There is a dramatic and inspiring story behind this wonderful hymn.
Charlotte Elliot was from an upper middle class and pious family. Both her grandfathers were pastors as were her two brothers. Charlotte received a college education at a time when few women did. After college, she fell in with a somewhat worldly crowd and drifted away from her religious upbringing.
In 1821, Charlotte suffered a “severe illness.” No one at the time knew what it was, but it left her an invalid the rest of her life. Early in her illness, she befriended Belgian pastor Rev. Dr. Malan. Rev Malan asked her if she had made peace with God. Her response was that she wanted to clean up her life first. Malan’s response was, “Come just as you are.” She did, and from this came the hymn Just As I Am.
Spending most of her life in bed didn’t get Charlotte down. She wrote 150 hymns, edited the Invalid’s Hymn Book including 115 of her own hymns, and edited an annual publication called The Christian Remembrance Pocket Book for some 25 years.
Her Hymn, Just As I Am, describes her attitude perfectly. She did not let her condition prevent her from serving.
The other day, a couple of buddies and I talked about this very thing to a group of seniors, how we can’t allow our condition of life prevent us from serving. I referred to a list I’d found on the internet to illustrate those who were unworthy or unable to serve, but did it anyway. Moses was 80 before he was fully used by God. David had an affair, Mary Magdalene was likely a hooker, Gideon was a coward, and the list goes on. My favorite on the list, though, was Lazarus. He was dead, and God still used him. With that in mind, what excuse can we really provide that would qualify us to sidestep service to God?
One of the women in this group of seniors said she couldn’t serve because she didn’t have a car. Another in the group told her she was the finest Christian woman in the community. She was an example to the others there, both believers and non-believers, of what it means to be a Christian. Her ministry was to those in the seniors’ community there.
Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” In other words, if we’re still alive, God hasn’t finished with us. Our ministry is not complete until the day of Christ whether when He comes or we go to Him.
So, what can unqualified people do? Well, there’s an old saying, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” If God is telling us to do something, we need to do it.
When I took Economics in school, the instructor told us if we wanted to be successful entrepreneurs, we needed to do at least one thing each day to promote or advance the business. It didn’t matter if it was just a phone call, answering a letter, or closing that big deal. All were important.
If God is calling us to serve in an area, and we’re not quite sure precisely where He wants us but we have a general direction, we should take a step in that general direction. God will guide us.
Two years ago I had no opportunities to teach. Since this is my drive, my spiritual gift, I needed to find an outlet. Teaching was the general need. I needed to find a step that would lead me in that direction. One result of the small steps I’ve taken is this blog. In the two years it’s been in existence, it has reached 22 countries including places like Estonia and even Communist China. It has had nearly 3350 views, and only God has promoted it.
A few months after I started the blog, I formed a website for Jehovah’s Witnesses. It has been viewed over 1,000 times with little promotion. The site has been visited from 20 countries worldwide including Senegal, South Africa, and the Ukraine. These two sites, the blog and the website, cost me less than $100 a year, and I am not a tech person. It’s just one way, one way a teacher, a shut-in, or a shy person can reach out and maybe make a difference for Christ.
I’ve learned if you’re uncertain about what steps to take but know what your direction should be, just step out in that direction. If it’s of God, We’ll know it and need to take another step. We may not be qualified or “spiritual” enough. But, if God has called us, he’ll equip us.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 