One of mankind's greatest pastimes
is seen in their practice of comparing themselves to others.
This habit is that which gave rise to the cliché, keeping up
with the Joneses. I believe this tendency was what
gave rise to the slaying of Abel by his brother Cain. We see it
in the brothers of Joseph as they saw his favor in the eyes
of his father. We see it exhibited to some degree
in the sin of Ananias and Sapphira as they saw others giving of
their possessions and thought they would appear as magnanimous
in the eyes of their brethren. It is quite common for men to
compare themselves unto others when they are judging the obedience
to which the Lord has called his people. They often take comfort
in their own levels of commitment and obedience to the ways of
the Lord when they look around them and see others engaged in
various activities which they would never even think of being
involved in. Many sects and denominations
pat themselves on the back as they compare their own faithfulness
compared to those who they consider either too strict or not strict
enough. We see many get on various hobby
horses which they ride with secret pride as they look around themselves
and pick out the sins of others while counting their own failings
as not nearly as bad. One of the more prominent areas
of this is found when the subject of sodomy or homosexuality is
discussed. One can quite readily gather
a chorus of amens if this particular form of wickedness is exposed
for what it is and the perpetrators are consigned to hell. Gay marriage
is roundly condemned, yet if one should mention that divorce,
fornication, or gluttony is equally hated in the eyes of him who
is of purer eyes than to look upon sin, many grow silent and
desire to move on to another topic, since it hits closer to
home for some who decry the sodomites. God hates sin, will judge sin,
and will destroy the perpetrators thereof, for the wages of sin
is death. Our obedience in following the
Lord's commands is not to be considered by comparing ourselves
to others or vice versa. Paul said, but they measuring
themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves
are not wise. It matters not how your walk
compares to the relative wickedness of other men. The Lord calls
his children to walk according to the one acceptable standard
which is given to them. Christ is our example. When we
compare ourselves to Him, we must all confess that we have
failed miserably, regardless of how we may stack up compared
to others. The scripture plainly tells us
that the man who shall dwell in the presence of the Lord is
of a sinless character and pure in thought and deed. Jesus Christ
is the only man who can dwell in the presence of a holy God.
The psalmist said that the Lord shall behold the upright. The
only upright man upon whom his gaze is set is he who has been
made to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him. There is one standard of righteousness,
and one who has measured up to that standard, being the righteousness
of God in himself. Apart from being found in him,
a man can have no righteousness at all. The father loves his
son with an eternal love, and he has ever been before his father's
face as that one beloved as his only begotten son. Before Adam
was created, the Lord did behold the upright and took pleasure
in him. He is indeed the righteous Lord
who loveth righteousness. None other will do. So how can
a man be found in the secret place of the Most High, except
he be hidden in Him who abides under the shadow of the Almighty?
This can only occur by and according to the sovereign purpose of God,
who has created a people which He chose in Christ from before
the foundation of the world. Their union to and subsequent
election in Christ makes them accepted in Him as He does impute
His righteousness to them, and they are seen in Christ as upright
because He is upright. The Lord said, And if I be lifted
up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Those that are
enabled to behold the upright and rejoice therein are those
who believe, calling upon the Lord. They desire no righteousness
but that which is His. Have you beheld the upright?