Righteousness!

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Isaiah 64:6

When I was a child I did not like butter. I would always seek out margarine instead of butter when I had the opportunity to eat at a restaurant. A few years ago I finally discovered why I didn’t like butter. The butter to which I was exposed as a child was not “sweet creamy” butter, but was rancid. It was old and on the verge of spoiling. I had quickly decided that butter was not for me. If that is what butter tastes like, then I don’t need any, thank you very much.

Many people today do not like “righteousness.” They see only the filthy rags of my righteousness and quickly decide that they don’t want any of that. They see followers of Jesus shriveled up like leaves and being blown away by their own sins.

The problem is this: I am displaying “my righteousness” before the world instead of the Righteousness of Jesus. The world loves to make fun of a “hypocrite.” A hypocrite is someone who speaks one truth but lives another one. When you live, empowered only by good intentions and human resolve you will undoubtedly be a hypocrite. The standard of Truth cannot be met by me or any other man living in his own power!

But when I display the “Righteousness” of Jesus before the world, they are drawn to Him. If my righteousness is like filthy rags, then the Righteousness of Jesus is like the most glorious tapestry imaginable. It is woven with the Heart of Heaven depicted in every scene and the Love of God running through every thread! The Righteousness of Jesus is a cloth that provides a glorious cover for everything that is not beautiful, only His Righteousness not only covers my sins, it also erases them! When you begin to see the Righteousness of Jesus you will be drawn to the flame of the Spirit’s fire and gladly let that fire consume every part of your being.

“Lord let me see the flame of the Spirit’s fire today and be drawn to the Glory of Your Righteousness!”