MY RAGGED SHIRT - EXCHANGED FOR PRICELESS TREASURE!

Just a shirt and an old one at that. Sentiment has kept it from the rag-bag because it reminds me of overseas countries where I have worn it. One such was Malaysia where some important papers fell through a hole in the pocket, with embarrassing results. The collar later came adrift and although mended, it still is rather a ragged shirt compared to a new one. I've had it for many years.

That shirt is a picture of humanity. In the sight of our Creator, people have become ragged, having gone their own way of living instead of God's way.  So they do not fulfill their intended purpose, and fail to reach their highest potential.

Nevertheless, in spite of extreme provocation, God has never abandoned the human race to ruin and exposure to judgment. God takes no pleasure in His wayward self-seeking creatures that choose to remain ragged. Instead He has constantly been reaching out in love, appealing for their response. 

He has given His magnificent world of nature for mankind's enjoyment. In New Zealand, we have so much unspoilt natural beauty! High mountain ranges provide exhilarating ski-ing, while the mountain lakes and rivers can be a fisherman's joy.  There are attractive beaches, and we breathe clean air!  My wife and I live in Auckland where we have a magnificent harbor that has been used for America's Cup racing.

All this from the living God, awesome in majesty! He laid the foundation of the Earth, and He asks us, as He once asked a man called Job,
“Where were you then?” 
Who set the boundaries of the oceans?
Can you produce the constellations in their seasons?
Do you send lightning bolts on their way?
Have the gates of death been opened to you?” 

Yet this same God is full of compassion toward His sinful creation.
The Bible says that He remembers we are but dust.
But - "The Lord God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve, since as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy towards those who trust Him."

God's Eternal Plan for reconciliation was His masterpiece – the cross!
The cross on which the Son of God died two thousand years ago. It was the meeting place where God could preserve His righteousness and justice by punishing all sin, and at the same time demonstrate His limitless love. God turned the devilishly inspired rebellion of people against Him into an opportunity where He could freely accept them into His family.  This was a turning point in world history!
On that cross, Jesus Christ secured the victory over all opposition of evil, as “He disarmed powers and authorities, making them a public spectacle”.  Jesus Christ died in our place, absorbing the divine punishment for our sin.

Although Jesus Christ was crucified in weakness, He was raised to life again by the mighty power of His Father. An amazing, yet provable event! His resurrection was the triumph, proof of the completed Plan that God had before the creation of the universe!  Christ then ascended to heaven from where, one day, He will return to Earth. 
At that time~ "Every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will confess that He is LORD."

Yet ~ in spite of all this, many people live in ignorance of their accountability to their Maker.  The human heart is so stubborn, reacting against the will of God. Using the picture of the ragged shirt, 'Universal Collaborative Leadership' can offer no more than a REPAIR job for improvement to curb the wrongs of the world.  It is just a band-aid policy, which leaves selfishly infected human nature unchanged and in danger of being discarded into the great 'Rubbish Bin'.

However, God deals at the core of the disorder that is in the inner human personality, and He RENEWS it. In 'shirt terms', He says
"the old is no good: throw it away! I'll give you a new one!"
It is actually a miracle transformation!
God's indwelling Spirit makes it all possible.
Why hang on to your old raggedness when you can freely be renewed, and transformed into a new “priceless shirt -fit for a king”?

While on Earth, Jesus Christ was one day approached by a rich man inquiring how to obtain Eternal Life. Jesus referred him to the Ten Commandments.  But the man failed to meet those requirements. He could not measure up to God's Holy standard, and nor can we. 

God does not operate on a scale of a '1 to 10 basis' for crediting human goodness.  We cannot merit God's acceptance by our own human effort. He receives us solely on the basis of sorrow for our sin that made us like a filthy ragged shirt and trust in what He has done to replace it with His Glory; and of our willingness to live under His direction, as set out in the Bible.

As a man in my 80's, I have placed my confidence in Christ Jesus and have committed myself to Him through life, and He has guided and protected me in so many ways!  He has allowed me to make mistakes to teach me lessons, and He is still working on me.  He leads me on a transition journey through this present life towards entrance one day into His eternal kingdom, where I shall meet the One who I have trusted here below.

The famous song “ Amazing Grace” written by the one-time slave trader, John Newton, contains great truth about how to approach God. 
 “Amazing Grace” (that is God's generous favor; an understanding of the undeserved love of God) 
 “That saved a wretch like me “ (an acknowledgment that we are in the wrong).
“Saved“  (a realisation that such a person has been rescued from eternal danger) 
 “I once was lost: I once was blind “ (an acknowledgment of guilt).  
 “Now I am found“ (Jesus Christ Himself has done the searching and has initiated a lifestyle change).

How to get right with God?  If this is your question, would you follow these steps? 

Firstly, you must admit the truth of the Bible where it says you are a sinner. So you have a need ~ and you ask Jesus Christ to be your Saviour, and you earnestly seek God's pardon.  Repent of wrong doing in your life. 

Then be willing to have a radical change in ambition, outlook and behaviour.  Make a conscious deliberate decision to allow God to direct your life.

This is a momentous step of trust ~ like when the question is asked,  "Will you marry me? " The girl has to decide between keeping her independence alone or a joyful future, sharing life with her loved one. As you say, " Yes " to the Lord Jesus Christ, you will discover that He gives a purpose for living, peace of mind, security and a title for His family membership. 

You are now in His Royal Family and He replaces the old ragged shirt with a priceless suit of glorious righteousness. I have every confidence in recommending my Saviour to you. "God is my Rock and my Salvation."

Your Destiny is determined by your reaction to all that God has done. While we hear the post-modern contemporary cry “Save the planet”, it is only the Lord Jesus Christ who came to SAVE. He is passionate about your spiritual welfare.  He eagerly awaits your response to His offer.  He wants to make something special and significant out of your life. May it be so, to God's Glory! 

CLIVE STEPHENSON
Auckland, New Zealand


Editor's note:
In November 2009 Clive sent this message to his friends.
"Hi dear Friends.

The results of the test on my tumor have not come out as expected. I had a consultation with a Professor of Oncology, who told me that I have a secondary Melanoma, that has come through the blood stream from my head, (where a melanoma was removed from my scalp). There is no feasible treatment. Surgery would be unsatisfactory.

We agreed it was, at present, like a 'grenade with the pin still in'. The rate of progress of the tumor is unknown. It is neither stable nor unstable. So it is 'carry on'... I have no bad side effects. The Specialist said that the melanoma might not 'win the race'. I told him that I was in Medical hands, but also the Hands of God Who I had always trusted, Who continued to give peace of mind, and Who knew my situation.  He said, "I think God can do more for you than I can." I told him I had written a tract, "The Ragged Shirt" and he graciously accepted a copy." 

Please, will you consider Clive's words, too?

If you wish to contact Clive you can send a message here.

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