In our increasingly polarized world, it’s easy to feel good about ourselves. We take pride in our beliefs and practices, even as we look down on those we consider to be deluded or even destructive.

But Isaiah reminds us that God has little use for those who say “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!” In fact, such spiritual pride is as offensive to God as smoke from a fire blowing into the eyes (Isaiah 65:5).

Why is that? In no small part because those who see themselves as better than others are inevitably hypocrites. In Isaiah’s day, such hypocrites might have scorned pagans even though they themselves worshipped the true God in the wrong place or in the wrong way (Isaiah 65:3). Sometimes these hypocrites selected what parts of God’s law to observe while intentionally dismissing the rest (Isaiah 65:4). How many of us modern Christians are guilty of the same sorts of things?

In contrast, God says He will welcome anyone “who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). Yes, instead of considering ourselves better than others, we need to realize that “all of us have become like one who is unclean.” Instead of being proud of our spiritual achievements, we should see that “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6).

And as those who understand that we are nothing more than sinners in need of a Savior, we must throw ourselves completely on God’s mercy, submitting ourselves to Him as if we were clay in the hands of a potter (Isaiah 64:8). For it is only as we humble ourselves in this way, bowing down before Him, that we can be sure He will comfort and bless us in the new heavens and new earth He is even now bringing into being (Isaiah 65:17).

Isaiah 65:8-12 (NASB)

8 Thus says the LORD, “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it,’ So I will act on behalf of My servants In order not to destroy all of them.
9 “And I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, And My servants shall dwell there.
10 “And Sharon shall be a pasture land for flocks, And the valley of Achor a resting place for herds, For My people who seek Me.
11 “But you who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain, Who set a table for Fortune, And who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny,
12 I will destine you for the sword, And all of you shall bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight, And chose that in which I did not delight.”