Good People...Good Goals

"...He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5, NLT)

I am a good person.

This is something that I hear often when the question of the way to Heaven comes up. Can someone be a good person outside of Jesus Christ? Hard truth answer: No. However, people can do good things. Please allow me some moments of your time to clarify. 

Every human on Earth has been made in the image of God. We know this because in the Book of Genesis 1:26-27, there is a conversation that God the Father (Creator God), Jesus (Word of God), and Holy Spirit (Spirit of God) are having. They made a decision to make mankind in His image. This means that every person is a spirit, in a body, with a soul. While we are not God, three Persons in One, we are made in His image and consist of three parts. Don't lose me now. 

At the very core of who we are is a spirit that holds the likeness of God. If God is good, and we have been made in His image, it would be reasonable to believe that we all have the ability to do good things. The misunderstanding, however, is not whether we can do good, but it is connecting to us BEING good. 

Scripture tells us a few things about our make up and our need. Remember God's decision in Genesis? Well, something else happens in beginning of this book. Two people, Adam and Eve, were created in His image. Two people were cared for and provided everything they needed. Two people had a close relationship with the One who made them. And, two people who did good made a decision to break that perfect bond. (Genesis 3:1-7)

The spirit core of who they were had a conflict with their body, aka, their flesh. And it was in this friction where their souls was convinced that they were missing out on something. Despite having everything, despite doing good, they missed the mark when they doubted what was clear evidence of wholeness. This part of who we all are is the reason why we can not be good outside of God. Being made in the image of something does not make it what it was fashioned after. It can represent the original well, but only as it remains in the context of it. (John 15:4-5)

Adam and Eve were not perfect themselves, but they had Perfect God who loved them there. It was easy to do good in His presence. It was easy to do good as they looked to Him, but in one split second of distraction, in hindsight we see why we need God. Separation now occurs, and everything hit the fan. Shame, guilt, fear, lack of ownership, consequences...they all show up at the same time, and it was devastating. (Genesis 3:22-24) What were they to do?

Enter Jesus. The second Person in God's intial conversation amongst Himself. The Book of John 1:1-5 describes Jesus very clearly. Jesus is the Living Word of God. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. So, in the instant Adam and Eve invited death and separation in, God already made a way to be restored back into right relationship with Him. Through Jesus, who literally came down for us to die that we may have life again through Him. The Book of Romans is a great place to read more on this. Yes, the whole book. Start slow if you need, but at least give it a go.

Midpoint. You are doing so well reading this. Let's keep recap for a moment. God is good. He made us in His image, but we fell short because we looked to something else outside of Him. At the core of who He created us to be is His likeness, so we can do good things. Our disobedience shows that we can also choose to not BE good. God in His perfect love provided us with a way to be restored back into right relationship with Him. Okay...still with me?

Great. Here is another hard truth: God cannot be in the presence of sin. Hence, the devastating consequence of Adam and Eve forced to leave the only safe home and security they knew. But God...sent Jesus. (Philippians 2:6-8) Jesus is the One who bridges the gap between us and our Creator, our Father God. Our flesh sins and is no good. We are not human doings, but rather human beings. If our flesh, which is no good, is a part of our being, then we ask again...can we be good people outside of God? Still no.

Doing good will not get us into Heaven. Only through Jesus does that happen. Is it beneficial to do good things? Absolutely, however, God is not interested in you looking the part...He actually wants you to be a part...of Him. This is why He sent Jesus, who gave up his deity to put on the burdensome, unruly, disobedient flesh that we bear each day. (Isaiah 53:2-11)

He committed. He submitted. He loved. He resisted sin. He suffered. He died for our sins. He rose again. He is now THE Way. He is how we are restored back into right relationship and closeness to the Father. Jesus, when we receive Him as Lord and Savior becomes the good in us. This is how Father God, who cannot be in the presence of sin is able to be with us once again. Through Perfect Jesus. Without Him, this does not happen. (Romans 3:23-26) Marinate here for 10 seconds.

Scripture says faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26) But what does good works matter if you have no faith. They go hand in hand. So, in exercising one without the other...what is the point? Validation? Feeling good about ourselves? Looking the part? No, none of these because they all come from a very deep selfish flesh-driven place. A place that separated us from God since the beginning. 

I believe the goal is not to simply do good, but rather, it is to BE with the Father. Is it not what He intended when He formed us and breathed life into us? Then, how can we possibly fathom getting there outside of the only Way?

Now, if you have read all of this, it is not by happenstance. God is having a conversation with your heart right now. My hope is that you pause to listen. Whether it is an invitation for you to draw nearer to Him, or a call for you to share the difference between doing good and being good with others, it is still Him pursuing what matters to Him most. You. Me. All of mankind. 

Most people don't tend to open a gift halfway, and delight in not experiencing the wholeness of it. Let's not do this with the gift of Life. Jesus paid the cost for the wages of death, so we did not have to. Yet, there is still the cost of self, flesh, that we must die to in order receive this abundant gift. (Luke 9:23-25) Lean into Jesus. Let Him restore you, and watch Him take you from just doing to being good with Him for all eternity. (Romans 6:23) Heaven is real, folks, and we do want to be there, but understand that it is not our true destination. Our true destination... has always been God's heart.

I pray this share was helpful and beneficial is some way. If so, pass it on in conversation and encouragement. Just know that in everything and no matter what...God absolutely loves you. Be blessed.🦋