A scoffer was stricken with serious illness. Long he had resisted the Spirit of God and had derided the Word of God and the truth of Christ.
During his continued sickness the time hung heavily upon his hands and he delighted in anything that broke the monotony.
His wife had a tuneful voice and often sang as she busied herself about the home. One of her favorite songs was that of which the chorus runs;
"O! take me as I am,
O! take me as I am,
My only plea, Christ died for me,
O! take me as I am."
As yet she knew not Christ as her own Savior, but her interests were in the things of God and thus she constantly sang the hymn.
One of the verses is,
"Helpless I am, and full of guilt,
And yet for me Thy blood was spilt,
And Thou can'st make me what Thou wilt,
O take me as I am."
Day after day the words were sung, and while at first it was only the music that attracted him, at length he began to think of the message of the gospel expressed in the poetry. He judged himself clever in his power of argument, but his conscience condemned him and he began to feel the need of something which he had never known.
The Holy Spirit was working, and little by little his self-confidence was shaken and he acknowledged to himself that he was a sinner guilty before God.
One day his wife was doing the housework when he called her to him and said,
"Sing 'Take me as I am."
As she sang the words,
"My only plea, Christ died for me,
O! take me as I am,"
he broke down and cried out;
"Will He really take me as I am? Will He receive one who has so often spoken against Him and lived all His life in hatred and opposition to Him?"
The hymn contained references to the Scriptures. And in the Word of God, the invitations to the needy, and assurances of blessing to all who come to the Savior, are simple and clear. Turning to the Lord he said,
"Take me as I am," and cast himself upon Him who said,
"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."
And so it was that the proud infidel was at once received and blessed. Joy and peace in believing filled his soul. He had passed from death to life and from Satan's power unto God.
Thus the grace of God was shown and another trophy of God's long-suffering was won.
"This Man receiveth sinners," was said of the Savior in derision. But the message is blessedly true.
Have you come to Him?