Like Filthy Rags
“You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry.
How then can we be saved? 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 64:5-6
After reading this passage, the only thing I can say is TGfJ- Thank God for Jesus!
It’s been awhile since I’ve read this passage but for some reason these two words keep coming to my mind, “filthy rags.” It is my opinion that one of the worst smells ever is the stagnant stench of a dirty, moist, on the verge of mold dish rag. This stench radiates from the rag like a dead animal. Now that’s pleasant!
“You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry.
How then can we be saved? 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 64:5-6
After reading this passage, the only thing I can say is TGfJ- Thank God for Jesus!
It’s been awhile since I’ve read this passage but for some reason these two words keep coming to my mind, “filthy rags.” It is my opinion that one of the worst smells ever is the stagnant stench of a dirty, moist, on the verge of mold dish rag. This stench radiates from the rag like a dead animal. Now that’s pleasant!
It’s hard to imagine that all of our good deeds, our righteous acts, could be like that stinky dish towel. But that’s exactly what Isaiah was saying. What could cause such a thing to happen? Sin. Sin spoils, rots, decays- taints even our best efforts. In Isaiah’s day this was even more of an issue since the One he prophesied had not yet come and the people had to gain forgiveness the old fashioned way- sacrifice. So while this sin was still counted against them, they would perform righteous acts to-which God found detestable.
“How then can we be saved?” Isaiah asked.
Jesus. God’s plan from the very beginning was Jesus! He knew his people would continually fall short and the only answer- Jesus.
As believers, we are preserved by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. All our sins have been forgiven. However, our sinful acts can still taint our good deeds. If we don’t have the right motive- they don’t count to our favor but even more devastating are the effect our sinful acts have on the unbelievers around us. Our hypocritical lifestyle is the excuse they need not to accept Jesus Christ. They judge the perfect gift by the imperfections of those who are called by his name.
The solution?
Watch your life and doctrine closely-1 Timothy 5:16
…walk in a manner worthy of the calling-Ephesians 4:1-3
It’s time to wash those filthy rags!
