He Waits

During the 1960s, bands from Liverpool – The Beatles, The Searchers, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer… – changed British music culture. One lesser known Liverpool group, The Crossbeats, sung Christian songs. I saw them on several occasions. I remember seeing them with Rachel at her school…

They wrote and sung the song ‘He Waits’. I had the music for it; I learnt to play it on my guitar.

There is someone waiting and he waits so patiently, To be your friend and take away your sin.

He waits continually, so patiently, He’s waiting, oh won’t you come to him.

He doesn’t ask that he should know the greatest things, So come to him and don’t delay.

Come to him as you are, Remember he’s not far away from you, he’s not far away from you.

It’s about a God who waits for us to respond to him. It’s the picture of the Father-God waiting for his prodigal son to return; it’s the picture of Jesus knocking on the door of our lives waiting for the door to be opened. He’s waiting patiently; it’s up to us how we respond.

This song reminds me of my teenage years when life was simple and faith was simple. It was about a Jesus who brought forgiveness and love, a Jesus whom I knew personally; it described a faith that was real to me, that I could share with my friends.

Why keep Jesus waiting don’t you know that he loves you, And he’s the answer to your emptiness my friend

He waits continually so patiently, Will you say yes it’s worth it in the end

He doesn’t ask that you should know the greatest things, So come to him and don’t delay

Come to him as you are, Remember he’s not far away from you, he’s not far away from you

Rachel and I saw the Crossbeats five years before we were married… It’s many years since I played and sung ‘He Waits’. So much has happened, so much has changed… and yet the simple truth of the song remains.

Jesus still waits for me – even when I wander off. He still reminds me that He’s close, even when He feels far away. He still invites me to come to Him, the one who loves me and wants to be my friend. He still tells me to come now, just as I am.

And it’s still up to me how I respond.