This morning I made a shocking discovery as I prepared to take a bath. I'm sure many of you will find this gross and TMI and, as a full grown man, it's pretty embarrassing to admit. I almost don't know how to say this, but I found a skid mark! Please don't judge me or stop reading here. I ONLY share this because it led me to consider an important spiritual principle.


There are few things more disgusting than boo boo. I have an one year old daughter who I love with all my heart, but I HATE changing her diapers when there's a #2 present! Nevertheless, she is a baby and therefore expected to soil her pants. To the contrary, I've been wiping myself for years and I consequently expect to find NO surprises in my unmentionables. No one was around to witness my discovery, but I was embarrassed as if there were an international audience gazing at my stain.

I decided to share this mishap because God touched my heart as I stared at the disgrace and He reminded me that MY righteous acts are as a filthy rag (Isaiah 64:6). What a literal picture God painted for me this morning. That spot was there despite my BEST efforts to cleanse myself. You have to understand that I'm borderline OCD and I've wiped before until I've drawn blood. So, it was not a lack of effort on my part that caused that spot to remain. Yet, the timing couldn't be more perfect...

You see, last night I went to bed disappointed in myself for doing something that I was trying so hard not to do again. Despite starting my mornings with prayer, meditation, worship, and the word of God, I STILL messed up at the end of the day. The powerful truth that I just discovered is... no matter how good I am or how much I wipe, I'll NEVER be completely clean!

I hate to be so graphic but no matter how many times or how long you wipe your butt, there is ALWAYS something left behind, even if it's microscopic. The same is true of our spiritual lives and walk with God. It makes no difference how many times you pray, how much you read your bible, how long you sit in church, how great your pastor teaches, or how many tongues you are able to speak in. You will NEVER be made clean by those acts. YOUR righteous acts are as a filthy rag (Isaish 64:6). 


Clearly, the only reason God accepts us is not because of our righteousness, but because of the righteousness of another, Jesus. No wonder He declared that no man comes to the Father but by me (John 14:6). There is NO ONE else considered right in God's eyes but Jesus (Romans 3:10).  If ANY of us stand a chance of God cleansing us or blessing us, we MUST approach Him based only on the premise of how perfect Jesus' sacrifice is, not how good we've been or how well we've wiped! Our human efforts will always fall short on the grand scale of God's holiness.

I'm grateful that he hasn't left us to our own devices but has provided us with a clear path to a strong relationship with Him. Even when we sin, we can rest comfortably that God will not destroy us because He already punished Jesus for our filthy deeds. We all are now wiped clean and made righteous through Jesus' obedience (Romans 5:19).  Only He can wipe us clean enough to stand in the presence of God, no matter how dirty we've been, and convince God to accept us as perfect!

Today, I ANTicipate growing even closer to God instead of running away from Him because of my sins. I am so confident that Jesus' blood has satisfied God's anger against my sin that I walk straight into His presence with no fear and lay at His feet. He will not strike me or reject me. He did that to Jesus so that I could enjoy this interrupted fellowship with Him! NOTHING can separate me from His love!