August 20, 2001

WIDE OPEN ARMS

A couple of people commented to me after Sunday's morning service that they were moved by the words of our closing hymn, "Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy." The words, written by poet Joseph Hart, who lived 1712-1768, were combined with an Appalachian folk song and were sung throughout the Southern states during the Great Awakening revival in the early history of our nation.

The opening stanza sets the tone:
   "Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
      Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
   Jesus ready stands to save you,
      Full of pity, love and power."
This is an invitation hymn, a call to simple faith by simple people.

I was particularly struck by the tone in the last two stanzas, in response to those who might say, "I'm not ready to come to the Lord, because I'm not good enough":
   "Let not conscience make you linger,
      Nor of fitness fondly dream;
   All the fitness He requireth
      Is to feel your need of Him.

   Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
      Lost and ruined by the fall;
   If you tarry till you're better,
      You will never come at all."

With that obstacle aside, the spiritual seeker responds to the invitation with enthusiasm and hope, as expressed in the refrain at the end of each verse:
   "I will arise and go to Jesus,
      He will embrace me in His arms;
   In the arms of my dear Savior,
      O, there are ten thousand charms."

Like the Prodigal Son of Jesus' parable (Luke 15:11-32), the repentant sinner finds Jesus' arms always open. And his embrace is not a perfunctory ritual. His is a grip that will never let go. In his arms the sinner experiences unimaginable affirmation, security and joy—"ten thousand charms."

Come, sinners! (Righteous persons need not apply.)

–Pastor George Van Alstine