Christ our Righteousness

“As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.”
Psalm 17:15 (ESV)

Beholding is the path to becoming. It is in the seeing of Him that we are actually changed.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18

From Genesis through Revelation, we read of those who had one purpose in life: to see Him who is the matrix from which all things come into being. He is the One by whom all things are created and for whom all things are created. The pursuit of this one thing has been the uniting purpose of all who have His Spirit within their hearts.

Righteousness is the vehicle through which we see Him. I cannot immerse myself in sin and iniquity and expect to see Him. The cry for righteousness within the human heart arises out of a pure desire to see Him. The pursuit of holiness or righteousness with any other motive will always lead to an abyss of religion and darkness.

“I will behold thy face in righteousness.”

“I will” speaks of confidence and the assurance of one who knows the grace and the wonder of his God. There is no doubt concerning this. This righteousness is the result of a heart submitted to the purging, dealings and searching of His Spirit.

“Little children, let no man deceive you:
he that doeth righteousness is righteous…”
1 John 3:7

Religion concerns itself with words; God concerns Himself with the reality of a life. The true substance of righteousness is revealed in the doing, not in the speaking. Righteousness is revealed in the things we do, for they are the true expression of what we are.

It is in the desire for authenticity that our true need for Him is discovered. The greater the desire for true righteousness, the greater is our need for the grace to make it so. This is the righteousness of God in Christ, for it brings us to complete dependency upon Him for its growth and development. His life reigning in us reveals His righteousness.

The pursuit of God is an ever-growing, ever-living and ever-deepening journey into the life and righteousness of God Himself.

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith…”
Romans 1:17

It is a continual unfolding of His righteousness in us through the development of our growing faith to walk and live in Him. David sums up his pursuit of God:

“I shall be satisfied,
when I awake, with thy likeness.”
Psalm 17:15