One of the biggest dangers in thinking that we are righteous in God’s sight just because of our good works is explained in Ezekiel 33:12 (KJVA) – “…the righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression …” It is indeed dangerous grounds! As long as we believe we have right standing with God based on our own righteousness, then a little slip would be enough to sweep our feet off the ground. But what if we did not make any mistake and got things right 100%? Then we would be facing the door of Isaiah 64:6 which has these words inscribed on it – “… all our righteousness are as filthy rags”.
However, if we were determined not to get frustrated; like I did several years ago; and made a U-turn from that door, then we would be favoured to find another door labelled John 10:9. On this door, Jesus Christ has boldly inscribed the following letterings: “I am the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture”. Hallelujah! I’m sure one of the pastures you would find after entering this door is the joy that will envelope your life when you understand – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made therighteousness of God in him” – II Corinthians 5:21
Yes! Just because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we possess the kind of righteousness that could previously be attributed to God alone. If you could look into all believers’ spirits right now, you would appreciate how righteous God is. God’s righteousness was given to us as a gift when we got saved. Nevertheless, this is not the major point I want to make today. For those of us who have come to understand this truth, how have we been running with it?
There’s a sad turn of events in the church of Jesus today. In time past, many believers did not understand the concept of God’s righteousness. However, you could see their zeal for God. They went about doing good works and exhibiting fruit that attracted men to Christ even though they could fit perfectly in the way Apostle Paul described the Israelites in Romans 10:2 – “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but notaccording to knowledge”.
Today, knowledge has come and we would expect that believers would be described as having “a zeal of God, according to knowledge”. However, many of us have embraced knowledge and have thrown away our zeal. The days of waking up at night to pray is over. Bible study is history.Evangelism is almost extinct practice. Materialism is the order of the day. It is getting increasingly difficult to differentiate believers from unbelievers.
Beloved, let’s get back on track. Our knowledge is not meant to erode our zeal. Titus 2:14 says Jesus … gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Have you really been purified by Jesus Christ? Then keep your zeal alive!
Tope Aladenusi
