" Filthy Rags "

 

Isaiah 64:1-9 "OH that THOU wouldest rend the heavens, that THOU wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at THY presence. As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make THY name known to THINE adversaries, that the nations may tremble at THY presence ! When THOU didst terrible things which we looked not for, THOU camest down, the mountains flowed down at THY presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O GOD, beside THEE, what HE hath prepared for him that waiteth for HIM.

THOU mentioned him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember THEE in THY ways: behold, THOU art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon THY name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of THEE: for THOU hast hid THY face from us, and have consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, THOU art our FATHER; we are the clay, and THOU our POTTER; and we all are the work of THY hand. Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold see, we beseech THEE, we are all THY people."

     The unsaved person is "clean in his own eyes" (Proverbs 16:2; 30:12), but filthy in GOD's sight: "There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after GOD. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Romans 3:10-12 pictured above). No matter how much human good they do, those who are "in the flesh (the unsaved) cannot please GOD" (Romans 8:8). Evil, unregenerate men can be good fathers (Matthew 7:11), good citizens, and good soldiers, and they can be considerate, helpful, and kind as judged by their peers. They can earn for themselves a wonderful eulogy at their funeral. Yet, GOD does not see as man sees: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (v.6 pictured at top of post). All our good deeds are like blood-stained garments; the expression in the Hebrew means "menstrual cloths." Such a blood-stained cloth carries this message: There is no conception, no life. GOD cannot be pleased with righteous deeds that are devoid of life. HE is delighted only when the believing heart allows the LORD JESUS to work out HIS life in and through us: "Now the GOD of peace. . .make you perfect in every good work to do HIS will, working in you that which is well pleasing in HIS sight, through JESUS CHRIST" (Hebrews 13:20-21). "For it is GOD which worketh in you both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). "Yet not I, but CHRIST liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the SON of GOD, who loved me, and gave HIMSELF for me" (Galatians 2:20b). Robed in HIS righteousness, the message is clear: There is life because CHRIST lives in me ! GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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