Just a Pitiful Sinner Destined for Hell

The life he had lived was of sin filled with shame;
He had cursed and blasphemed in God’s Holy Name;
Of drugs and of alcohol he’d had more than his share,
And the load that he carried was just too heavy to bear.
He had once had a family, a sweet wife and three sons —
Those once he held dear, but they, too, were now gone,
Driven out by his rages and drunken tirades,
By the beatings he’d given and the threats he had made.
Their leaving he had taken as a matter of course,
With no thought of repentance or the slightest remorse.
The business he once owned had then gone “belly up”
So he turned to the needle and the bottle and cup;
His money he spent on parties and wine,
And it, too, was soon gone, So he joined the bread line.
A poor wretch of a man, living only for self,
He was just a pitiful sinner Destined for hell.
Then one night, as he staggered, bleary-eyed, down a street,
With his clothing in tatters and worn-out shoes on his feet,
He passed by a little church with its door open wide,
And he stopped just a moment, peered intently inside,
Saw the man at the front with uplifted hands,
Then he heard someone singing, “Just As I Am!”

Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee; O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

“Just as I am,” he thought, “Would God accept me?”
“Oh, that from this burden I could forever be free.”
Then he walked up the steps to that meeting house door,
And knelt just inside on the meeting house floor.
He lifted his hands, prayed the poor sinner’s prayer,
And Jesus’ blood saved him, right then and right there,
Washed all of his sin away, cleaned out all its dross,
As that small congregation sang “Down at the Cross.”

Down at the cross Where my Saviour died; Down where for cleansing from sin I cried;
There to my heart was the blood applied. Glory to His Name!
Glory to His Name! Glory to His Name! There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His Name!

A new man in Christ Jesus, he walked down that aisle
To be met at the altar by the preacher, who smiled,
And said, “Welcome, my Brother, we’re so glad you have come.
The Father has been waiting for you to come home.”
He knelt at that altar as tears streamed down his face,
While that small congregation sang “Amazing Grace.”

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

And how about you, my friend? Are you still in your sin?
Do you know Jesus died that you might be clean?
Would you be washed clean in the blood of God’s Lamb?
Then take Him as your Saviour, singing “Just As I Am.”

Just as I am and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, Though tossed about With many a heartache, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, poor wretched, blind, Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

a. franklin staples

© Copyright 1999 by A. Franklin Staples