Proverbs 11:19 Life or death_

Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The NAS translates it: “He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life…”

Life or death are constantly staring us down in the minutia of our daily choices. It sounds so dramatic to say that, but in reality we are on one trajectory or another. Similarly, our behavior may be righteous or in pursuit of evil. Again, that sounds dramatic because we don’t typically frame our choices in those terms. I love the simplicity of computer code. It is either yes or no, on or off. Yet with it, programmers create amazing things such as platforms with which one may write and read words like these. Even though I don’t usually elevate my every consideration to the level of choosing heaven or hell, my values are the programmers orchestrating my code to one outcome or another. Line by line. Day by day. Yes or no.

Righteousness, although the word sounds lofty, is behavior that is morally upright and virtuous — something that helps, benefits others. Although I will always have a choice of how I behave, whether good or bad, I will inevitably fail. It is still good for me to behave well, but that doesn’t erase my certain failure. I read this proverb and think, “if I only can behave better, I too may be righteous.”

The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Psalm‬ ‭14:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As good as it is to pursue righteousness, there is only one way to do so. God sent the remedy for my failure in his own son. That failure may all be bound up and nailed to the cross with Jesus. But that’s not the end of it — Jesus rose from the dead. After burying my misdeeds with him, he also demonstrated that there is a second chance and a new life I too may live. Jesus is my righteousness, not my deeds.

I may be righteous… by simply believing.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭4:3-5‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬

Incredible.

Once forgiven, I may be filled with his Spirit. And the fruit of his Spirit brings about the very behavior that I have tried so hard to have on my own… love, joy, peace, patience, long-suffering and more.

There are values in my heart that still compete with the kingdom of heaven, and so I am still on a journey. As I make choices daily I listen carefully for his Spirit’s indication of whether or not I’m pursuing a lesser or greater value.

Solomon would be proud of me.