I love thinking of this verse with the image of a child playing in the grass. Recently on a evangelism trip, P.Mihael preached from this verse and gave an illustration about that. When a child plays in the grass they fall; they get dirty. This type of "filth," is an outward display of what happened. In Isaiah 64:6 though, we don't see this, we see a "filth" that is coming from within.
The best of what I have to offer (from within) is "filthy rags." This is a very sobering thought on the mission field. "What am I doing here?" is usually the first thought I have when going through a test or trial. Very quickly followed by "Does what I'm doing have any purpose/meaning?" This thought very quickly takes me back to these two questions I have for myself. If the best of what I can offer is this dirt, this filth, then what do I really have to offer? What is so special about me?
In an objective of myself, I am not the most qualified, I don't have the most to offer, but I do have something, walk with God. Pastor Mihael said something that I thought was so incredible, he said, "The right decisions taken in my flesh are temporal. Saying I won't drink/swear/smoke/etc are good, but taken in the flesh, only last until the next time you drink/swear/smoke/etc. It's easy to not be carnal, just believe God loves you, believe He is for you."
The thought that the best I have to offer is filthy brings me "down to earth" quickly. The main thing though, is that I need to take this a realize the full thought. Yes, my best is filth. No, I may not be the best man for the job. Above all of this though, I have a God, a Savior, who loves me and is for me. He has paid my debt. He says, "Leave that. You can't do it, let me take care of that for you." We know what 1 Peter 5:7 says, but I want to put it in the Amplified because I like the way it words it;
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
My work could so easily become about doing what is "right" or what is "good." There is nothing wrong with "good" things, but I am not interested in the "good," I am interested in the "eternal," in what is "finished." I have a hard enough time keeping my clothes clean from the outside, why would I strice to produce something that will only dirty my clothes from the inside out? Resting in His love, His thoughts about me, His plan for me, is what drives those questions out of my mind. Along with giving me a little peace of it...
I want to leave you with a few pictures of our students preparing for our annual Art Show...
