Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Nothing is more common among
the inhabitants of this world, especially the religious men
of all types, than the idea that God weighs the relative goodness
of men and upon that basis meets out blessings or curses, as the
case may be. Most entertain the notion that
the good deeds and devotion of men have some place of high regard
in the eyes of the Lord. Isaiah describes the unsuitableness
of anything which springs from the creature. But we are all
as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags, and we do all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the
wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth
upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee.
For thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us because
of our iniquities. If our righteousnesses, that
is, our acts of devotion, obedience, and kindness, is as a menstruous
cloth in the sight of a holy God, then where shall we go when
covered with the sin which has caused Him to hide His face from
us? For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house
of God. And if it first begin at us, where shall the end of
them be that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous
scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
The psalmist asked this very question, who shall ascend into
the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted
up his soul into vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. The man of
religion looks at this verse and sets about to cleanse himself
and develop the necessary attributes which will give him an entrance
there. Yet the scriptures are quite clear that there is only
one man who has ever fulfilled these requirements. It is he
who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. His righteousness,
which is a perfect and unadulterated righteousness, is alone acceptable
in the courts of heaven. We will be drowned in despair,
except that we have been given ears to hear a most joyful sound,
which rings throughout the earth and ministers light to those
who sit in darkness. This sound is the gospel of the
glory of the blessed God. The Gospel declares both the
origin and the extent of that righteousness and redemption
which is secured for the sons of God by and in Jesus Christ. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification
and redemption. This is the path of the just
which Paul testifies of, and the grace of our Lord was exceedingly
abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This
is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Jesus Christ alone is the just
one. No other man born of a woman
can claim this standing. He has fulfilled every jot and
tittle of the law. He alone has clean hands. He
went about doing good each day of his life. The righteous also
shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be
stronger and stronger. Jesus Christ alone has a pure
heart. As Peter said, neither was guile
found in his mouth. We are exhorted to love one another
with a pure heart fervently. He is the only man who has ever
done that perfectly. Having loved his own which were
in the world, he loved them unto the end. Jesus Christ alone has
not lifted up his soul unto vanity. He came into the world with one
purpose in mind, which was to do his Father's will. I can of
mine own self do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment
is just, because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the
Father which hath sent me. He sought no approval from men.
Jesus Christ alone has not sworn deceitfully. What he has said,
he will do. The strength of Israel will not
lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent,
in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised
before the world began. Let not your heart be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself
that where I am, there ye may be also. The Lord weighs the
path of the just. No other path is worthy of his
consideration, nor shall any be received who are not found
in that path. How foolish is the man who shall seek to come
into the presence of God through any other way, even as our Lord
Jesus testified. Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. Thus saith the Lord, which maketh
a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters. Are you in
this path? All shall surely perish who seek
to approach unto God in any other righteousness than that which
is of Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners. For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at
windstream.net.