Filthy Rags

Our best efforts at righteousness, our most charitable donations, our most degrading service, our most selfless sacrifices, our greatest sermons (and writings for that matter), are nothing but bloody menstrual rags in the sight of our Awesome and Holy God. Sound harsh? Take a look at Isaiah 64:6. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” At first glance this seems as though it would fit in well with Paul’s compilation of OT assertions about mankind’s irreparable sinfulness. (“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18)) However, if you look closely, you will notice that Paul’s compilation denounces the wrongdoings of evil men, whereas this statement in Isaiah dethrones the righteous acts of men that we are quick to honor. How can he bring such an indictment against our righteous acts? Simple. The theory of relativity was around long before Einstein. The prophets, as they spoke the words of God, were given a clear view of the true nature of things. Things that appear tragic and loathsome from the human standpoint are actually good and pleasing in the sight of God, whereas the things that appear great and good from the human standpoint are seen as feeble and detestable through the eyes of God. For example, only a few chapters before the “filthy rags” comment in the beginning of Chapter 57 we find this paradox. “The righteous perish and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” It is all a matter of perspective. In regard to righteous acts, even the best are tainted with selfishness and impure motives, and are based on woefully incomplete knowledge and understanding of God and His righteousness. This is why the Hebrews writer says that without faith it is impossible to please God. We can never give something to God that earns His respect by its own merit. It is like trying to impress Michael Jordan with my basketball skills, or showing Lance Armstrong how fast and long I can ride my bike. Nothing I could possibly do can come close to impressing them. This is the point God was trying to get across to Job. Job was so proud of His righteousness that God finally had to shout in a 4 chapter monologue, “YOU THINK I’M IMPRESSED!!!” So, if nothing we can do or accomplish can please or impress God, what does that leave us with? It leaves us with humble, childlike faith. Like a toddler’s artwork, our heavenly Father will take our filthy rags with joy and pride, if they are offered in humble faith, reverence and fear.