How can a man be in the right before God?

Job 9:1-15, 32-35,

Then Job answered, “In truth I know that this is so, but how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to dispute with Him, he could not answer Him once in a thousand times. Wise in heart and mighty in strength, who has defied Him without harm? It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, when He overturns them in His anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun not to shine, and sets a seal upon the stars; who alone stretches out the heavens, and tramples down the waves of the sea; who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; who does great things, unfathomable, and wondrous works without number. Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him. Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What art Thou doing?’ God will not turn back His anger; beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab. How then can I answer Him, and choose my words before Him? For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.”… “There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both. Let Him remove His rod from me and let not dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him; but I am not like that in myself.”

Job clearly knows the nature of God, and that even though he sees no reason for his current condition; he knows that he cannot stand before God’s holiness. Many view God today as one who is benign, one who loves us; what is lost is the recognition of His anger. We know that He is not slow in coming, but He is slow to anger, “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Even an umpire would do no good for us, for there is not one of us who can stand in complete perfection before the pure and perfect judge, God Almighty. We need a perfectly righteous intercessor, One who has taken all of our guilt and failings in the flesh upon Himself and who cleanses us from all unrighteousness and presents us has His own!

Thank You for Jesus who has set us free from the power of sin and death and who presents us to You in His purity and righteousness!