“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 64:6
I was recently reminded in a book I’m reading about the absolute necessity and desperate need for faith in God in the Christian walk. The truth that hit home was simply that there is nothing that I can do that makes me more acceptable or more pleasing to the Lord. I am pleasing and acceptable as I am, not as the woman I desire to become or the person I long to be. Right now, in this very breath, I am the most acceptable to God I can ever be.
My thinking has become warped over the past five months to thinking that somehow I am becoming more delightful to the Father because of this World Race journey. Not that I have to earn my salvation, but that I have to try and do in order to be a pleasant aroma that rises to the Throne Room. I must exude certain qualities and characteristics to be an acceptable daughter to my Father.
But I don’t. In fact, quite the opposite. The Bible tells us again and again that it is our faith and trust and belief in Jesus and His sacrifice on our behalf that makes us acceptable. Even our most selfless, righteous, and holy deeds are like “filthy rags” without belief. I could have stayed at home, locked in my room, and if I had great faith, be more pleasing to God than if I went these entire eleven months without trusting that God is who He says He is and will do what He promises to do.
I am ready to stop doing and start being, to stop striving and start resting, and to cease asking God for more and start thanking Him for what I already have. And what I have is… everything. I have all I need, all blessings, all hope, all strength in Christ right now. I don’t have to wait for tomorrow or next month or next year because I can never have more than what I currently have.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:8-10
