Strive To Righteousness

We should not only achieve righteousness for its blessings alone; we should aspire to righteousness because it is pleasing to God. The verses below in Isaiah 3 and 4 give a good picture of where we stand as a society in America today. I take the great liberty to express my opinion on this issue because I work at a High School in WV that is one of the largest in the state. I interact and observe the students and staff from an excellent vantage point. I observe the public at large as I go about my daily routine of life in the area in which I live. The verses below speak to all societies regarding those who willingly and willfully sin; and there is are very encouraging words for those of the population whose desire it is to live righteously according to the word of God.


In the outright arrogance that is growing like a weed immune to destruction, for the most part our society acts are described as such:

Jerusalem is ruined; Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD to provoke the eyes of His glory. The look on their faces witnesses against them and they declare their sins boldly as Sodom and do not attempt to hide it. Woe unto their soul! For they have rewarded evil unto themselves.


There are those who beat His people into pieces and grind the faces of the poor. The daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton, wondering eyes, walking and mincing as they go and making a tinkling with their feet. Their pride and arrogance reaches up to the heavens.


What is God's reaction to such arrogance? He will smite with a scab the crown of the head and discover their secret parts. He will take away the bravery of the tinkling ornaments about the feet, the ear rings and their round tires like the moon (necklaces) the chains, the bracelets and the bonnets; the ornaments of the legs and the headbands and the earrings, the rings and nose jewels. The changeable suits of apparel and the mantles and the crisping pins, the glasses and the fine linen and the hoods and the veils.

Instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a coat or wrapping a straight jacket, and instead of well set hair, baldness and clothing of sackcloth and burning instead of beauty. The men will fall by the sword and the mighty men of war. The gates of the cities will wail and mourn and being desolate the citizens shall sit upon the ground.


Thus, the reward for arrogance and rebellion against the King of Heaven and Earth.


What of the righteous? In the midst of such terror where do His people fit in? Do we suffer the same lot as a society in total rebellion? NO!


In that day, at the same time, the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious! The fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for those who have escaped the scourge. Those who are His will remain and shall be called holy. When the LORD washes away the filth of society by His judgments by the spirit of judgment and burning (these are actual spirits He sets lose), those who have remained righteousness are witnesses that it does pay to obey.


Righteousness does have a reward. There shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat ( and it will get very hot in this process) and a tabernacle and place of refuge and covering from the storms and the great rains that wash away iniquity.


Jesus is our tabernacle. He is with us always; even to the end of the age. His ever present strength, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, will quicken our mortal bodies, as well as our spiritual being. Do not fear the things coming upon societies that rebel against God. We are of another kingdom. Though the earth be moved, He is ever present. He is our Rock, our Strong Tower, our Saviour and has given those who love Him eternal salvation.