by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Whenever I work outside, especially if I’m pulling weeds along the back fence line, I end up with filthy clothes. It’s a given. I expect it. I don’t despair over the dirt and grim that accumulates, because I know once I throw those clothes into the washer and add detergent, they will become clean.

I love the image of Christ covering us with his sacrificial blood that removes our dirt and grim, our filth and shame, to make us whiter than snow. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, those who accept his gift of mercy, love, and grace no longer stand condemned before the Father. There is now no condemnation for those who belong to Christ.

No one can bring a charge against us once we belong to Jesus. But there is someone who sure tries his hardest to accuse, throw those filthy clothes back on us, and make us feel unworthy of God’s love.

Satan’s been accusing God’s creation since the Garden. And he’ll continue to accuse until the day Jesus Christ, the Victor, returns and throws Satan into the fiery pit once and for all.

God declares us righteous through Jesus. We don’t stand before God on our own. If we did, then Satan’s accusations could stick. However, we stand before God clothed in Christ’s perfect righteousness, not our filthy garments.

In the book of Zechariah, the prophet saw a vision God used to illustrate what it means to stand justified before God with the debt we owed paid in full by Jesus.

The High Priest Joshua stood before God in filthy clothes. Satan stood next to Joshua ready to accuse the High Priest.

Heavenly attendants were told to take away Joshua’s filthy clothes because God took away his sins, and would give him new spotless clothes to wear.

Joshua didn’t remove his filthy clothes himself. God removed them. We can’t remove our filthy sinned-stained clothes ourselves, either. We must surrender our lives to Jesus. Once we do that, he will remove our filthy clothes and give us new spotless clothes bathed in his righteousness.

Just as Satan could not bring a charge against Joshua, when we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness, the Deceiver cannot bring a charge against us.

And all the people said, Amen.

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In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. The angel of the Lord said to Satan, “May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire.”

Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. The angel said to his heavenly attendants, “Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing.” Then he said to Joshua, “I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear.”

He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua’s head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there. Zechariah 3:1-5 (GNT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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