Right and Righteous

Corina Medina

Kansas City, Kansas

The definition of `right' in both Strong's Concordance and in Webster's Dictionary is: "In accordance with truth and duty; that which is fair, correct, just."

In Genesis 4:1-7 God asked Cain to do well. "The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering, but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? (In Strong's Concordance `well' means to make well; sound, beautiful, happy, successful, right.) What wonderful words of life were offered to Cain, but Cain refused God's offer and chose to do wrong. Webster defines `wrong' as "not right, not in accordance with truth, incorrect, mistaken, immoral, injurious, unjust, illegal, unsuitable, improper, harmful, evil, error, trespass, transgression." This definition sounds, in varying degrees, like all of mankind without the New Birth. See Galatians 5:19-21."The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings and such like.."

Cain did wrong. He refused "to do well," to be made beautiful, happy, successful and right. Abel, in offering the lamb "firstling of his flock," did right. "And the Lord had respect unto Abel." Abel was saved, counted righteous, justified, born again, he was sound, beautiful, happy, successful and right in God's eyes. Absolutely wonderful!!

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we also have done right, and have been provisionally made "well and sound and beautiful, happy and successful." We have passed from death to LIFE and shall never perish. We are justified by faith in Christ Jesus and have peace with God. We are saved from our sins, forgiven and counted righteous by the Living Righteous God. We have been blessed beyond anything imaginable. Our righteousness is not a self-righteousness. We are not the source. It is not a law keeping or `earned' righteousness. See Romans 9:30-33 and Romans 10:1-4. But our righteousness is of God a marvelous gift of LIFE - born of God and sons of God by faith in Him who loves and died for us. Ephesians 2:8-10.

Consider also this righteousness is "His workmanship" on-going. We submit to His transforming power working in us (Romans 12:1,2) conforming us to the image of Christ and preparing us for His coming. Titus 2:11-14. He is making us ever more beautiful (glorious) in His eyes and "blessing us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places."

Oh Lord, give us the wisdom to do right and allow you to work in us that which is pleasing to you.

Dim eyes cannot read fine print. Let

your testimony for Christ be written

in large letters that the world may see.