Torn Nylons

One morning I was in a hurry. I was scurrying to get out the door to be at church early. The last thing on my list was to get myself ready. As I pulled a pair of nylons from the dresser, I noticed a large run in one leg. Putting them on anyway, I hoped my slacks would hide the flaw. They did. No one was the wiser, but I knew. All through the morning, I felt slightly uncomfortable knowing that I had not donned my best to go to church. Instead of lazily wearing my torn nylons, wouldn't it have been better to put on a new pair? But I didn't do that. I chose to hide the flaw.

Isn't that a bit like sin in our lives? Don't we try to hide it instead of eliminate it? Scripture tells us that all our goodness is as "torn nylons" compared to God's purity.

Isaiah 64:6a – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (NIV)

So, nothing we do will earn us heaven. Scripture also says that, unlike my nylons, everything which is now hidden will be revealed.

Luke 12:2 – For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known." (NKJV)

All sins will be trotted out — except for one thing.

Romans 5:8-9 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! (NIV)

When we are in Christ Jesus, His righteousness drops over us like a garment. But unlike my slacks merely hiding the flaw in my nylons, this garment of righteousness transforms the wearer. So when we stand before the King of kings, we will not be in our tattered rags. That is because Jesus has made provision for His own to wear a white robe of righteousness.

Isaiah 61:10 – I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (NIV)

Prayer: Almighty God, in Your books, we've mucked up our lives, major big time. We acknowledge that we have sinned when compared to Your awesome purity. We ask You to forgive us for Jesus' sake, for we pray in His holy name. Amen.

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