My perfect, spotless righteousness

No man ever loved like Jesus. He taught the blind to see and the dumb to speak. He died on the cross to save us. He bore our sins. And now God says, "Because He did, I can forgive you."
- Billy Graham

Love dad

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For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

I heard a sermon Wednesday (Dr. Erwin Lutzer), and the quote from Dad at the top reminded me of it - this statement from Martin Luther was quoted:


Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon
yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have become what You were not so that I might become what I was not.
-Martin Luther

All day long Wednesday, and and all week after - I just kept thinking... "I am His sin" - "He is my righteousness". I just keep letting it run through my head... we can't even grasp what that really means. Because we will never have God's wrath poured on us - because it was instead poured on Him on the cross... on the perfect spotless Lamb - Prince of Peace - King of Kings - instead of on me.

It should have been me... but because of Jesus, it wasn't. Praise God for a perfect plan no man could have ever dreamed up. I'm amazed more and more as I see how every little detail moves toward the goal of God's plan. Even the things we see as "getting in the way", "impossible to overcome" - every little detail He can work to the good of His plan. And those who love Him love His plan - so in the end everything works for the good of us who love Him.

He loved us... so that we could love Him. If we really had a grasp of just how Holy, Awesome, and Mighty He is - the fact that He LOVED US FIRST - how amazing?

I heard a song Thursday morning (Selah - Before the Throne of God Above) - and it tied together all of the things I've been thinking on the past couple of days... and when I heard the words:
"my name is graven on His hands; My name is written on His heart",
the tears just started rolling...

He knew our name before there was time - and He (Creator of all things!) let us nail Him and OUR SINS to a cross.

He is our righteousness
and we are His sin -
and all we have to do is claim His blood as the only good we have, and He begins to change our hearts into something we never could have been without Him... amazing is even too small a word for that saving grace and the gift of faith.

Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,

One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

He hides a smiling face...

William Cowper (1731–1800)
God Moves in Mysterious Ways


God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.


Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,

And works his sovereign will.


Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.


Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence,

He hides a smiling face.


His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.


Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan his work in vain;

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

Cowper struggled with depression and despair - and yet he wrote some of the most beautiful hymns we have. Piper's Hidden Smile of God outlines the lives of John Bunyan (Pilgrim's Progress), William Cowper (There is a Fountain), and David Brainerd (missionary to American Indians). It's good to read about those who fought the fight before us... all three of these men struggled in life for different reasons - but their one common bond was crying out to God in the midst of the pain - and being strengthened despite the otherwise seeming hopelessness.

If we don't remember that the Christian life isn't always rainbows and sunshine - it's easy to lose hope when things aren't going our way. Reading this was a good reminder that I'll see storms along the way - but not to lose hope in the storms; even the winds and waves obey His voice. Nothing can touch me that doesn't pass through His hand.

Thank You Lord for protecting me - even when I forget You are right by my side, and thank You for reminding me that You are.