IN PURSUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS by Minister Aramide Owoso

What is righteousness?

Righteousness is the ability to stand in the presence of God without a sense of guilt or inferiority.  It means to be in right standing with God.

The bible makes it clear that, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  In the beginning, God created man and beautified him with His (Jehovah’s) glory.  At creation, He commanded man to subdue the earth and rule over it.  He then placed man in the Garden of Eden, a place of abundant provision.  Eden was a place of peace, where God came to have fellowship with man in the cool of the day; when there is tranquility and serenity that pave way for uninterrupted communion with the Father of grace.

 And so it happened on that faithful day, as Jehovah approached with intense expectations to enjoy once more a time of blissful communion with man, man was no longer at rest.  The peace had been broken; for fear had been given a foot-hold to create a gap.  The middle wall of partition had broken the free flow of fellowship and grave consequences followed.  Indeed the wages of sin is death.  If only man remained in obedience.

Still in His loving grace, Jehovah covered his nakedness by shedding the blood of an innocent animal to obtain a covering, so that man would no longer be ashamed.  Sisters, God is still in the business of covering our shame but He desires that we get back into the place of full obedience. The truth is that most of the struggles we experience and the frustration that lingers are a direct product of partial obedience or outright disobedience. Don’t forget that God has promised to punish all disobedience contrary to us, after our own obedience is complete. He is not a man that He should lie. He is the never changing God.  As it is written Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever.  Pause.  Think about that.

The amazing truth is that even after He puts man in charge and we betrayed His trust at the Garden of Eden, out of the abundance of His love, He forgave us and began to work out a redemption plan.

The Psalmist said: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed in the same manner as the eagle’s” Psalm 103 verses 1 to 5.

Do you really believe that He forgave your iniquity, when you asked for His forgiveness and surrendered your life to Him? He did – as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

What a well thought out, all rounded plan!  It looks like a carefully baked cake. And the icing: He satisfies your mouth with good things. How exciting!!!  What an awesome God!  What a caring father!  What a righteous judge!

He has not dealt with us according to our works while we were dead in sin and held bound by the Adamic nature of deceit; disobedience; and sin. Rather, He has justified us through the finished work at Calvary. Hallelujah!  We have now been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

But sisters are we still deceitful?  Pause and think deeply.  Search within before answering that question.  Please ask yourself - Who have I deceived lately? – my husband; my children; my neighbor; my employer; my employees; my friends; my pastors; my leaders; the government; the tax man; the council; and the list goes on.  Whoever it is and irrespective of the circumstances, repent and make amends.  God would love you for it.  And He would reward you for making Him smile once more.  Just remember, how we smile in happiness as our children makes right, their wrong.  It is the same with our loving, caring heavenly Father.  He will rejoice over you with singing.

Now, have you considered the partial obedience or outright disobedience? Don’t give that innocent look.  You know exactly what it is.  Don’t overlook it, confront it and ask God to give you grace and strengthen you to do what is right.  He is indeed a rewarder of our diligence.

God knew the importance of being righteous.  He knew we cannot go through life successfully and error-free by our own strength, determination or self-will.  That was why on completion, we became the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore sisters, let us continue; progress; press in; and pursue righteousness.

Righteousness is a force. And believe me – it is a force to reckon with, to be successful in this year 2012.  As it is written the force of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance forever.

Enter into your quiet pasture, by the still waters, assured of His grace. Pursue righteousness.

To be continued….

Bible References: Romans 3:23; Genesis 1:26 – 29; Genesis 2: 8 – 16; Genesis 3; 8 – 21; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 1:19; II Corinthian 10:6; Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 13:8; Zephaniah 3:17; Hebrews 11:6; Proverbs 22:28; II Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 32:17.