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. –Isaiah 64:6, KJV 1611
- It’s actually my first time using KJV!
- We are not righteous by our own.
Look at the Pharisee and the publicano. The Pharisee was pointing fingers while making himself look holier-than-thou -as if halos with starred crowns circled around his face. But look at the tax collector: he gave a pat on his heart and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner”.
THIS is the righteousness we have to rely on. Mercy.
Let Isaiah 53:4 & 5 explain you better… “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; he punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
That’s the mercy we have to rely on!? The One beaten? The One tortured? The One carried around like a monigote? Pretty much, no. That’s the ONLY, only thing we have to trust on if we want to go to Heaven. Not everyone’s going there, you know?
If you trust on Jesus now, He can change your garments, those gleaming bloody red, to gleaming white as snow…