The LORD seldom does things according to man’s logic. When men are preparing for battle they always, assume that the key to victory is to follow the advice of the old Civil war general, Nathan B. Forrest, who purportedly said, “Get thar fustest with the mostest”. Yet the LORD instructed Gideon to go into battle with 300 men against a force that vastly out numbered them. Common sense would say that a shepherd lad armed only with a slingshot and a few stones was no match for a seasoned warrior who stood nine and a half feet tall. Yet David (in the power of GOD) slew Goliath and ultimately cut off his head with Goliath’s own sword. Daniel could not possibly survive a night alone with ravenous lions yet he lived while his accusers were ultimately destroyed.

The scripture says “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov 14:12) So it is that men, in their “supposed” wisdom, think that they can win favor with GOD by their own righteousness. Some think this righteousness can be found in moral living. So they take great comfort in believing themselves to be honorable, by comparing themselves to those who are morally lax. They see sin as something other people do. They may join campaigns against immoral behavior and take pride in being upright citizens. Yet when the LORD JESUS walked upon the earth HE kept company with drunkards and harlots (see Mat.11:19) and said to those who judged themselves to be righteous, “Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” (Matt 21:31-32)

According to the reasoning of men, GOD is pleased by their activity and service, whether to GOD or their fellow man. In fact, most think that by doing good deeds to others they can earn favor with GOD and enhance their likelihood of acceptance by HIM. They do not know that it is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Tit.3:5) wherein we have received HIS mercy.

Some think that their righteousness is demonstrated by their faithful religious service. They go about saying prayers, going to church meetings, giving of their time, money, and talent assured in their own minds that what they are doing must be pleasing to the LORD. They think that their “righteousness in these things” is more acceptable to HIM than the actions of those who are irreligious or atheists. Surely, it must count for something. The Pharisee’s were the epitome of extremely devoted religious men, yet the LORD said “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20)

Many marveled at this revelation and said among themselves, who then can be saved? The answer to that question is that no man can be saved by his own righteousness. That which men judge to be righteous is no righteousness at all. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Rom.3:10) “ But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isa.64:6)

The gospel (good news) of the LORD JESUS CHRIST is that HE has obtained redemption for sinners. HE has become the righteousness of those who have none of their own to claim before Almighty GOD. In the days of David’s habitation in the cave of Adullam there were many who were drawn to him. Those who became his followers were not upstanding and prosperous citizens. They were those who were in trouble with the law, in debt, discontent, and in distress. In general terms they were undesirables. But their unworthiness in the sight of men in general was exactly the reason they were drawn to David, a man who gave them hope.

Only as a man is made to see and know his own hopeless condition will he seek the LORD for aid. As long as he holds out some expectation for obtaining favor with GOD by his own works, he will never believe the Gospel nor find any comfort therein. When a man knows himself to be a condemned sinner without excuse then that man, by the grace of GOD, will fly to the LORD for help and according to the scripture will find it. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom.10:13).

RELIGION

GOD has always had a people in the earth with whom HE has been pleased to interact and to which HE has been pleased to reveal HIMSELF. Yet HE has always maintained a distance between HIMSELF and those people upon which HIS favor has been shown. Though HE has been pleased to reveal much of HIS purpose and way unto HIS people over the passing of time, HIS glory and person is so great that it is impossible that man should ever be able to know everything about HIM. HE said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

All nations and cultures in the earth have some form of religion. All of man’s religion, without exception, is an attempt by him to “harness” GOD for his own purposes. This can be seen very clearly in the pagan religions of time past and in much of what calls itself Christianity in our day. Seminars and courses are held to teach people how to “get GOD”. Whole sermons are devoted to teaching people how to “get GOD” to answer their prayers and fulfill their desires. Some claim to be able to teach folks how to “get GOD” to send revival or “heal the sick”, or bless them with earthly wealth. There have been volumes of “how to” books written, promoted, and sold to so called “Christians”. In fact the vast majority of those who call themselves members of the “Christian religion” trace their beginnings in their “faith” to some step by step method they were taught to “get GOD”, whether walking down an aisle or filling out a form. Many actually believe they can produce “Christians” by getting men to follow these formulas and pray these prayers. Where is the convicting power of the HOLY SPIRIT?

GOD is not a huge spigot that we can turn on whenever we need a blessing or help with some problem. HE is not a puppy dog who is waiting patiently at home, just waiting for us to show up. HE does not need us, we need HIM. We are waiting upon GOD and not vice versa. HE will be not be worshipped nor approached in any manner which men devise. HE can only be worshipped in one way, in SPIRIT and truth, by a people to whom HE is pleased to reveal HIMSELF. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things” (Heb 1:1,2)