While working with the television in the background, an ad came on for a children’s charity. Amazing Grace played in the background. A woman sang, but the lyrics were different. I have heard alternate lyrics before, but did not know exactly what they were. Tonight, I looked into it. Sadly, I was not surprised much by what I learned, but my heart does break for this human race.
It seems we are too good these days to be wretched. We prefer to sing of amazing grace “that saved and set me free,” though we are ambiguous on exactly what it is that held us from which we needed to be set free and could not, being the exemplary creatures we are, manage to free ourselves. Maybe that is why some prefer the amazing grace “that saved and strengthened me” apparently with enough strength to set oneself free but wretched? Oh, no, we are not, could not ever be wretched.
Yet, according to the Word of God, that which John Newton, author of Amazing Grace, preached and proclaimed from the pulpit given to him in 1779 until his death in 1807, it is the one who is wretched that is set free. Paul declares,
“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” — Romans 7:24-25a
Paul was wretched and wanted to be set free. Oh, but that was Paul. Paul was a persecutor of Christians. He was wretched. John Newton was a trader of slaves. He was wretched. But not us. Not today. We are not wretched.
Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. – Revelation 3:17-18
Christ Jesus dictated that in His letter to the church at Laodicea right after He told them,
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, will I spit you out of My mouth. – Revelation 3:15-16
Better to be cold or hot? Better to stay away entirely than to come half-heartedly? How enthusiastically on fire can one be for his Savior if one does not believe he has need of a Savior in the first place? If one is not wretched but merely unhappy? If one is not lost but just a little confused?
We are, clearly, living among the Laodicean church today. We no longer recognize our poverty. We think that grace — that amazing grace of which Newton writes — might be innate within us and our fellow man. We no longer see ourselves as wretched, miserable beings whose best efforts laid before the LORD God are no more than filthy rags, a stark contrast to the marvelous, beautiful, pure white linens of perfect righteousness that Christ Jesus alone gives unto His saints.
Modern man no longer sees any need for a Savior. He is not wretched. He is not poor. He is, instead, thoroughly deceived.
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun;
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,
Than when we first begun!The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.
