righteousness

This is a post from a few years ago that I thought was appropriate for Easter.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10. This verse used to bother me. I know we’re supposed to be holy and righteous but this verse says none of us are. What’s the deal?

God showed me, through a minister, what it means.

Picture God and Jesus in Heaven looking down on earth. God says, “Look at those people we created. The devil’s really messed them up. Here we are, totally righteous, no evil in us and there they are, totally evil, no righteousness in them. We need to do something.” God thinks a minute…..then says, “We need to go down there and make things right.” And Jesus says, “Father, I’ll go.”

So Jesus goes to earth and stands majestic and tall before man, you and me. He has on His beautiful, shining, white robe of righteousness and there we are, bent over with filthy rags of sin on us. Jesus says, “Here Son, I want to make an exchange with you. Take my robe and give me your rags.” (This happened on the cross.)

He willingly takes off his white robe and hands it to us and puts on our filthy rags. When He does, He becomes bent over and burdened down under the weight of OUR sin. But, when we put on His robe of righteousness, we raise up strong and tall! The point is…we are not righteous in and of ourselves, no not one of us. But we have been MADE righteous by the exchange of robes! “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

That’s the answer! We’re not righteous in ourselves, Jesus made us righteous! Thank God for that exchange. Don’t stay bent over under the weight of sin. Take the robe, He’s holding it out to you. Jesus did this when He rose from the grave victorious over sin and death. But it’s our choice to accept the exchange.

Given June 12, 2010

I attend a men’s prayer breakfast at a church of a friend each month and on my way to it this morning, God gave me this revelation. Each one of us is tempted probably every day to do, say, think, or feel something that is contrary to God’s plan for us. I find the more I strive to be like Jesus, the more temptations the devil will throw out in my way to distract me. I’ve heard Joyce Meyer say, “New level, new devil.” and I know it’s true. So I was asking God when these temptations were going to be over. I was immediately reminded of the scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” So I said, “Thank you God. Anything I face, I’ll be able to bear and you’ll give me a way of escape from it. But…what’s the way of escape?” This is what I saw:

I was standing there in front of two doors, one labeled SIN and the other RIGHTEOUSNESS. A little demonic creature was there in front of me trying to talk me into choosing the SIN door which was wide open. The RIGHTEOUSNESS door was closed with some “stuff” in the way that would have to be removed to gain access. I thought, “This SIN door looks pretty good and it’s real easy to go into but it will take some work and effort to get into RIGHTEOUSNESS.” “So, Lord, where is the way of escape here?” He said, “The way of escape is your CHOICE.” Wow! The way for me to escape from the temptation set before me is my free will and ability to choose. If you think of it, with every temptation, we have a choice; do it or not, go there or not, think it or not, yield or not. But remember, the way to SIN is easy and the way to RIGHTEOUSNESS is not, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.

I takes some effort to choose the right way when tempted but, I’ll tell you, it is worth it. The next time you’re tempted, remember this, your way of escape is your choice. Choose RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Easter – The Great Exchange

Way Of Escape

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