Our Good Is Not Good Enough....

Most of us would say that we are good people right? We are good members of society. We do our humanitarian volunteer projects, maybe give some extra cash to a homeless man on a street corner or serve at a soup kitchen. So we are good people right? We haven’t done the major sins? We haven’t murdered anyone or done any big crimes. Yeah, we aren’t totally perfect but we are better than most right?

This is how most people view their lives. They are ok. Yes, they have told a few lies or stolen a candy bar once or twice but compared to most they are pretty good.

God has given man laws on how we are to live and be. Through the Ten Commandments God has given man the standard for living. How we are to honor and revere God and how we are to treat and live with those here on earth. By these commandments God judges us. Every action, word spoken, mind’s thought will be judged by God.

Yes, you haven’t murdered- but God said in Matthew 5:21, “We have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.” That even if you have hatred for someone, you have committed murder in your heart.

Yes, you have haven’t committed adultery but it also says in Matthew that, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

So even by those two laws we will be found guilty before God. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all.” James 2:10, so even by the tiniest, white lie, lustful thought or disrespectful comment to our parents we will be found guilty before God.

But you may say, “Look at the good that I have done! I’ve rescued animals from the humane society; I’ve taken care of the planet! I gave money to the Salvation Army bell ringers, I gave a sandwich to a hungry homeless man, I built wells in Africa, and I helped old ladies cross the street!!”

The reality to this is it is not good enough. It doesn’t matter. “But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6

God in His utmost holiness sees our “good” deeds as nothing.
The Law does judge us but what it does show us is the holiness of God on High and our need for Him. It shows us that He is the only one that is truly holy. Truly perfect in all things. And the only one that is truly sinless and righteous.

The Law also shows us who we are. We have broken the law. We are truly fallen beings in need of a Savior- Jesus Christ. It shows us that is it impossible on our own to live the holy life that God requires. “Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” Lev. 19:2 Left to our own, we will always fall short of His standard.


“Caught in this dilemma, what are we Christians to do? We must like Moses cover ourselves with faith and humility while we steal a quick look at God whom no man can see and live. The broken and contrite heart He will not despise. We must hide our unholiness in the wounds of Christ as Moses hid himself in the clefts of the rock while the glory of God passed by. We must believe that God sees us as perfect in His Son while He disciplines, and chastens and purges us that we may be partakers of His holiness.” –A. W. Tozer “Knowledge of the Holy” pg. 167