“We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)
Someone wrote a book entitled, “I’m OK, You’re OK;” but the title is not a correct analysis of society. If you want a correct diagnosis of society or humanity or of yourself, read the Bible. It will give you a correct diagnosis. And a correct diagnosis is necessary if a correct remedy is to be prescribed. Our verse gives a correct diagnosis of man, and the only remedy for this diagnosis is Jesus Christ. There are four parts to this diagnosis—forbidden, filthy, fading, and frail.
Forbidden. “Unclean.” This word in the Hebrew is used in a legal sense. This is illustrated by the laws of leprosy. If a leper was pronounced “unclean,” he was shut out of society. He was forbidden from many places because of his leprosy less he defiles someone. So, it is with sinful man. He is forbidden entrance into heaven because his sin has made him unclean. “There shall in no wise enter into it [the heavenly city] any thing that defileth” (Revelation 21:27).
Filthy. “Filthy rags.” These two words describe what is extremely and unmentionably dirty. And this is used to describe not only our sins but also our righteousness. This says our very best is worthless as far as salvation is concerned. We cannot be saved by our works, for they are “filthy rags.”
Fading. “We all do fade as a leaf.” This speaks of the work of sin upon us. Sin leaves a mark. How quickly it can fade a life. The beauty and youth of mankind fades quickly when sin dominates the life. Fading speaks of unfaithfulness, that is, a garment that fades is one that will not hold its color. Sin makes us unfaithful. But the remedy, Jesus Christ, never fails. “He abideth faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13).
Frail. “Our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Sin makes us frail in that we have no strength against sin. Sin overpowers us, conquers us, dictates to us, enslaves us, takes “us away” from God, worship, the true joys, and the best things of life. But Christ can give us strength (Philippians 4:13) when we turn to Him for salvation.
God Bless
Selected,
— Butler's Daily Bible Reading (2) Sermonettes
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