Stinky Things

4-25-12

                Our granddog  Sudo has numerous stuffed animal squeaky toys that are no longer stuffed and no longer squeak. Our dog Bailey used to be fond of such things, too, and we always referred to them as his “stinky things.” They were pretty much unrecognizable for what they once were but these dogs just love to chew on them and chase after them when you throw them. The dogs would bring them to us, all tattered and dripping with dog saliva, and we would say, “What IS this stinky thing?”

                Anyone who has ever had a cat probably knows they like to give us “presents.” What they think we should feel grateful and honored by is their leaving us a disgusting dead mouse on our doorstep.

                This morning Sudo jumped on my lap and began wagging one of her stinky things right in my face and would not stop. I pretended to be annoyed. My wife told me I should be honored, as Sudo is presenting me with her most valuable possession.

                I thought about that and I wondered whether God sees it that way when we, in good faith, try to offer our best to Him. It says in Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” It might have said that all our righteousnesses (or righteous acts) are as stinky things. Everything we tried to do to obtain forgiveness of sins, to obtain God’s favor, all our rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices were seen as abominable to God. It says in Psalm 40:6, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire. Psalm 51:16 says, “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.”

                So is there any hope for us? Yes, there is. The next verse of Psalm 51 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” In Hosea 6:6 God says, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

                With the righteousness of Christ that is imputed on us once we come to God with an honest and contrite heart and receive the salvation He so generously offers we are given robes of righteousness. We become members of God’s Church, the Church of God, the Bride of Christ, and are given a wedding garment that is pure and spotless. 

                Thank God, being saved and sanctified, we are no longer offering stinky things before Him.