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The Rags of Self-Righteousness, December 9
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
Revelation 3:17
.
How plainly is pictured the position of those who think they have all
the truth, who take pride in their knowledge of the Word of God, while its
sanctifying power has not been felt in their lives. The fervor of the love of
God is wanting in their hearts.
Many are Laodiceans, living in a spiritual self-deception. They clothe
themselves in the garments of their own righteousness, imagining them-
selves to be rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, when
they need daily to learn of Jesus, His meekness and lowliness.
What is it that constitutes the wretchedness, the nakedness, of those
who feel rich and increased with goods? It is the want of the righteousness
of Christ. In their own righteousness they are represented as clothed with
filthy rags, and yet in this condition they flatter themselves that they are
clothed upon with Christ’s righteousness.... They may be crying, “The
temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we,” while their hearts are
filled with unholy traffic and unrighteous barter. The courts of the soul
temple may be the haunt of envy, pride, passion, evil surmising, bitterness,
and hollow formalism. Christ looks mournfully upon His professed people
who feel rich and increased in the knowledge of the truth, and who are
yet destitute of the truth in life and character.
Jesus says, “I, your Redeemer, know your works. I am familiar
with the motives that prompt you to declare boastingly in regard to your
spiritual condition, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need
of nothing.’ Thou ‘knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked.’” ... What a position to be in! They stand in
their own light.
But notwithstanding their willful ignorance, they are not left by the
Lord without added warning and counsel.
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