This is David's message to us in Psalm 37:5-6, where he tells us to trust in the Lord. David said, "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday."
*How is the Lord going to "bring forth our righteousness as the light?" Ultimately there is only one way, and that is through the cross of Jesus Christ.
*What if you were the best person in Caldwell Parish? What if you were the best person in Louisiana? You're probably not. But what if you were? -- You would still not be good enough to go to Heaven!
*The only person good enough to go to Heaven was the one who came down from Heaven. The only person good enough to go to heaven was the one who died on the cross so that we could go to Heaven. Without Jesus Christ we are simply lost and on our way to hell. But Jesus died for us and rose again. Now he offers His forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life to anyone who will trust Him as their Lord and Savior.
2 Corinthians 5:21 puts it this way: "For He (that is, God the Father) made Him (that is Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
*Bill Bouknight described Jesus's terrific trade by saying, "Not all trades are fair. Some take advantage of the ignorant or uninformed. But occasionally one bumps into a trade that is so caring, so loving that it rattles our selfish bones.
*At the heart of the Gospel is a terrific trade like that: A sinless Christ took upon himself the sin of all people, bore it to Calvary, suffered and died for it. And in exchange covered all believers with His perfect righteousness."
*Then Bill said, "Let's suppose that I am wearing a coat that reveals the state of my soul. Every commandment I ever broke, every needy person I ever ignored, every lustful thought I ever had, every profanity I ever uttered, -- all have left dirty marks on my coat. What a filthy garment it is! I must wear the coat and no cleaner on earth can remove its stains, and smudges.
*Let's suppose that Jesus approaches me. I try to hide because I don't want Him to see my filthy coat. It reveals everything bad about me. But Jesus finds me and says, 'Bill, I know all about your coat. I love you anyway. Give me the coat.'
*Miserable with shame, I turn the coat over to him. Then I watch as He marches off to Calvary. He wears it on the cross, bearing the penalty for every smudge and stain. And at that very moment when He cries out from the cross, 'It is finished' and breathes His last, suddenly I become aware that I am wearing a new coat.
*Instantly I recognize it. It is Jesus' coat! And there's not a smudge or a stain on it. It's a coat of perfect righteousness. Now I can walk into the very presence of God, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ." (1)
*What a trade! Only it’s more than a new coat. It’s a whole new life, eternal life! Jesus took our sin and death so that we could have both His righteousness and His eternal life. Have you made this trade? It is the most important thing you will ever do in life. And God wants you to do it today. So, call on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you. Then you will have God's hope, real hope, the hope that lasts forever! And you will have His righteousness. He will be your righteousness.
(1) Adapted from Sermons.com sermon "A Terrific Trade" by Bill Bouknight - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21- 2002