Here is yet another personal message from me to you dear Reader. Perhaps you are a wandering soul, doubting and seeking some spiritual truth, a balm for your turmoiling heart. But before you assume that this a light and easy thing to see and grasp, and the condition of your soul is no heavy and serious matter, consider well and deep this Gospel truth, and I pray you may approach savingly the foot of the Cross with all merit you once esteemed ground into powder.
Perhaps you are a believer in Christ Jesus. A believer in Christ for many years, or even a few months. Reflect upon this short message and pray it be made fresh yet again to your soul. And you may see yet again in greater luster the grand beauty of the Gospel of Christ.
“I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.”—Luke 7:7
You are much more sinful than you think you are, much more unworthy than you know yourself to be. Instead of attempting a soothing of your dark thoughts, I pray you believe that yours is a hopeless case apart from Christ. This disease is not skin deep. It lies in the source and fountain of your life and poisons your heart.
The flames of hell must wrap themselves about you certainly unless Christ interposes to save you. You have not nor will you ever have merit of any sort. And more, you have no power to escape from your lost condition unaided by the Savior’s hand.
No words can exaggerate your deplorable condition, and no feelings can ever represent your real state in colors too alarming. You are not worthy that Christ should come to you. You are not worthy to draw near to Christ.
But—and here is a glorious contrast—never let this for a single moment interfere with your full belief that he who is God but who took our nature, who suffered in our stead on the cross, who now rules in heaven is able and willing to do for you immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine.
Your inability does not prevent the working of his power.
Your unworthiness cannot put fetters to his bounty or limits to his grace.
You may be an ill-deserving sinner, but that is no reason why he should not pardon you. Jesus Christ is able and willing to save those who come to God through him.
Your emptiness does not affect his fullness.
Your weakness does not alter his power.
Your inability does not diminish his omnipotence.
Your undeserving does not restrain his love.
Your troubled hearts, your sense of your unworthiness should drive you to Christ.
You are unworthy, but “Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6).
He gave himself for our—what? Excellences and virtues? No, he “gave himself for our sins” (Gal. 1:4), according to the Scriptures.
We read that he “died for sins… the righteous for the”—righteous? No, “the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Peter 3:18), to bring us to God.
Gospel pharmacy is for the sick; gospel bread is for the hungry; gospel fountains are open to the unclean; gospel water is given to the thirsty. Let your huge and painful wants impel you to fly to Jesus. Let the vast cravings of your insatiable spirit compel you to go to him. Your unworthiness should act as a wing to bear you to Christ, the sinner’s Savior.
—C. H. Spurgeoni
Footnotes
- C. H. Spurgeon, “The Centurion’s Faith and Humility, ” in New Testament Men, bk. 2 (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1996), 61–63; Wallis, D. (2001). Take Heart: Daily devotions with the church’s great preachers (47). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. [↩]
