Do-Gooders?

Do-Goodism

"...the actions or principles of a do-gooder." (Also, do-good•er•ism)

Do-Gooder - "an earnest often naive humanitarian or reformer" - "a well-meaning but unrealistic or interfering person."

Those who think that they will finally be saved from judgment for their sins because they have "done good deeds," are truly "naive." Wrote the prophet:

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64: 6)

Several metaphors and similies are used by the prophet in this verse. Sinners are "as an unclean thing." Their "righteousnesses" (thoughts and deeds of "do-goodism") are as "filthy rags." Thus, in life, those who fail to return to the Lord, "fade as a leaf." Their sins uproot and wreak havoc in their lives, taking them away like a mighty gust of wind.

It was said by the prophet:

"For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." (Proverbs 23: 21)

This is true for both the natural alcoholic and for the spiritual drunkard. Wrote the prophet:

"It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion. Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered." (Isaiah 29: 8-10)

"Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine." (51: 21)

What are men "drunk on"? They are drunk on themselves, on their sins. And, spiritually speaking, the souls of sinners are clothed with "filthy rags."

"With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." (Revelation 17: 2)

Change of Raiment

"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." (Zechariah 3: 3,4)

This is experienced by the Christian when he forsakes trusting in his own do-goodism, his own good deeds and righteousness, and wholly trusts in the righteousness of another, even of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise..." (Romans 10: 1-6)

"Christ is the end of the law for righteousness." Such good news! Those who have believed on him and trusted in his righteousness, fulfill the ancient word of the Lord, where he calls out, saying:

"Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean." (Isaiah 52: 1)

Beautiful garments for rags! Going, spiritually speaking, "from rags to riches." Wondrous story!

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (61: 10)

"I will also clothe her priests with salvation..." (Psalm 132: 16)

"...be clothed with humility..." (I Peter 5:5)

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment." (Revelation 3: 5)

A sinner who has come to Christ has been thoroughly washed and cleaned. His old sinful garments, his garments of pride, arrogance, and damnation are removed and he is given the cleanest and most glorious attire, the garments of kings.

Friend, when you are called forth to stand before the Lord, in what kind of garments will you appear? Will you stand clothed in the "filthy rags" of your own works, your own self wrought righteousness, or in the righteousness of God in Christ?