Another Man’s Righteousness

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16-17

I was thinking of my dad this morning. It’s been a few years now that he’s been gone. I still remember the day we buried him. I always knew if I lived long enough, that day would come. I could never prepare for the moment I watched him being lowered into the ground. My heart sank knowing I would never see him again in this life.

My father was a good man who lead and took care of his family. Yet, in the middle of his life, he realized his hope for heaven was based on another man’s righteousness. He knew he needed a physician to remove his deadly disease of sin.

Jesus didn’t come for the righteous, because there were none. No one will be declared righteous by law keeping. So, we must be found in Christ with the righteousness that comes from God, by faith. (Philippians 3:8-11)

What about you? Are you trusting in your own ability to please God? Is your hope for heaven based on your good outweighing your bad? Do you believe God will let you into heaven since you try your best to do what’s right? Remember that God requires perfection. That is why he made Jesus who had no sin to become sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

We are close to the end. Soon someone we love will be saying goodbye to us. On that day, may we be found in another man’s righteousness. My dad’s last year on earth was very hard to endure, but I saw him keep his faith to the end. I had great comfort in the middle of great sorrow that day. I miss you dad.

“Thank you, Lord for having compassion for us by taking our sins upon the cross that day. Our hope for heaven is impossible without your substitutionary work.”