Come As You Are - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!

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Family,

     I have not been able to find any scripture or verse that says or translate into “come as you are”.  I do understand that we can’t afford to wait until we are perfect before we come to the LORD, so with a sense of urgency we are to come as soon as possible.  For tomorrow is not promised.  GOD wants us to come back into relationship with HIM and HE does not expect us to have a perfect life.  Somehow this phrase (not scripture) has translated to “keep dressing anyway you want, just keep coming to church” or “keep practicing your sinful nature, just come to church”  In other words, we have been convinced that GOD is o.k. with us coming to church Sunday after Sunday, without any change!  Just come as you are!  Now you may be asking, “What does the scripture of the day have to do with this?”  Well . . . if we come to church broken hearted, damaged, discouraged . . . just as we are, and we receive CHRIST . . . we become new creations! We won’t be the same anymore because old things will pass away!  We still won’t be perfect . . . but CHRIST has made us new!  Behold!  All things have become new! Which means all of our ways become new.  The way we talk, walk, dress . . . the way we live our life is new!

     To sum it up!  There is no verse that says “come as you are,” however, we must understand that GOD wants us to come just as we are . . . and it has nothing to do with what you are wearing!  In fact . . . it has nothing to do with your appearance at all!  It’s all about the condition of your heart!  In CHRIST you are new!  So . . . you may come to the LORD as you are, but you are not suppose to stay that way!  My mentor has always said, “Let them come as they are, but by the Word of GOD, let them leave as the person HE has called them to be!”

     Come to the place of repentance just as you are, and let CHRIST make you new!  I pray that you were able to read this whole SOD!  I know I “SAP” (Sneak-A-Preach)