If You Tarry Till You're Better.......

The phrase, "If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all," is found in the song, I Will Arise And Go To Jesus. This song is a favorite of mine from my childhood. The tune has a mournful, tantalizing quality, and the rhythm is hypnotic. This phrase, "If you tarry till you're better, you will very come at all," really hits home with me. I remember singing this as a child and thinking, "that's me. I am waiting to get better at doing what is right before I go to Jesus for redemption. I can't bring him all this mess that is me. I have to at least try. Or show him that I am making at effort. Show him that I am ready to be a Christian and live like a Christian." 

Now, the phrase hits home with me because I know people, people who I love and care about, who won't come to Jesus because they are waiting to be/do better. When I hear the last words of the verse, the thought just makes me cry, "If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all."

Oh my friend, please don't tarry! "All the fitness he requireth, is to feel your need of him." If you know that you need a savior, run to Jesus. He will embrace you in his arms. Salvation is easy. So easy. Jesus did all the work. Rely on him and him alone. You can't wait until you are better. You will never be better. You will never be worthy. You will never be good enough to pay your way or even, at the very least, show him that you are trying. He just wants you to trust him. He paid it all. Believe that he is who he says he is. Believe that He is the Messiah. The Savior. Your Savior. Believe that his death, burial, and resurrection was/is for you. That's it. Please don't tarry.

Revelation 22:17 

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. 

And let him that heareth say, Come. 

And let him that is athirst come. 

And whosoever will, let him 

take the water of life freely.

Matthew 11:28 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest. 

Romans 10:9 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, 

and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, 

thou shalt be saved.

Romans 6:23 

For the wages of sin is death; 

but the gift of God is eternal life 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1 Corinthians 15:3+4

For I delivered unto you 

first of all that which I also received, 

how that Christ died for our sins 

according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, 

and that he rose again the third day 

according to the scriptures:

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,

Weak and wounded, sick and sore

Jesus ready stands to save you,

Full of pity, love and pow'r.

I will arise and go to Jesus,

He will embrace me in His arms

In the arms of my dear Savior,

Oh, there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,

Lost and ruined by the fall

If you tarry till you're better,

You will never come at all.

I will arise and go to Jesus,

He will embrace me in His arms

In the arms of my dear Savior,

Oh, there are ten thousand charms.

Let not conscience make you linger,

Nor of fitness fondly dream

All the fitness He requireth

Is to feel your need of Him.

I will arise and go to Jesus,

He will embrace me in His arms

In the arms of my dear Savior,

Oh, there are ten thousand charms.