Rags In His Eyes

Apostle Grace Lubega

Isaiah 64:6(KJV); 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.

Imagine a life that you have mapped out to perfection: your discipline in controlling your habits is enviable. Your early morning routine with its twenty-minute prayer slot which has never been breached and your character that you have worked at with rigorous discipline is commendable. To you, these are the yardsticks for righteousness.

By all standards, you are a very good person. You are in perfect company with Saul before his conversion, “a Hebrew of Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”(Philippians 3:5-6).

Straight as a ruler, you are.

But how does God view all these near-heroic efforts at perfection?

The Almighty One says they are filthy rags.

Filthy rags! He did not spare His words by suggesting that they are carelessly discarded clothes in the corner of a bedroom; He did not suggest that they are unironed worn-out clothes. No. To Him, they are RAGS and they are FILTHY.

To heaven, your efforts at perfection have an ungodly stench, and this is the stench of dead works (Hebrews 6:1). They may be glossy to you but to God, their odour is repulsive. The apostle Paul was not any kinder in his language either. He called them “dung” (Philippians 3:8).

If God has such an unattractive view of your righteous works, what then must you do as a child of God?

Well, put your ‘precious’ righteousness aside and embrace the imputed righteousness of God (Romans 4:22-23).

You will never be right and perfect before God until you are right HIS WAY. This righteousness is received by faith and is the only gateway into a life of true perfection.

If you desire self-mastery, start with the understanding that you have the imputed righteousness of God. If you are striving for self-discipline and self-control, start with this knowledge of God’s imputed righteousness.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 4:22-23, Philippians 3:8

GOLDEN NUGGET: You will never be right and perfect before God until you are right HIS WAY. This righteousness is received by faith and is the only gateway into a life of true perfection. If you desire self-mastery, start with the understanding that you have the imputed righteousness of God. If you are striving for self-discipline and self-control, start with this knowledge of God’s imputed righteousness.

PRAYER: Father, You are a gracious God. Your mercy knows no bounds and Your Compassion never fails. I have embraced the imputed righteousness of Christ, it is my garment and my nature. My justification and perfection is in You alone and not in what I do. Every day, I dance cheerfully to the rhythms of Your grace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.