“Jack, the Captain wants you!” Jack was at work in the blacksmith’s shop making shoes for some of the horses of the army regiment. His friend who had called him to go to the officer was neat and clean, ready for inspection.
Jack looked at his dirty clothes and grimy hands, thinking for a moment that he could not go to the Captain as he was. But his friend cut his thoughts short with the words, “Jack, the Captain wants you NOW!”
The hammer was thrown down at once, and the soldier—dirty as he was—started off to meet his officer. It so happened that the Captain was a Christian.
“I’m glad you can obey orders, Jack,” said the Captain kindly when he saw him. “You came as you were, and that is just how you must come to Christ, just as you are.” Jack was surprised at this comment, but he realized then that salvation was an urgent matter.
Have you had the thought that you must make yourself better before coming to the Saviour? You are to come “just as you are,” and you should not wait any longer. Just as food is provided for the hungry, water for the thirsty, medicine for the sick and hospitals for the diseased, so the Saviour is prided for sinners. He says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:3232I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32).
ML-05/18/1980