Good

Often, when describing one person to another, people will say..."He is a good man or she is a good woman." And in our minds, the person is good! If you look up the definition of "good" it begins with the definition of a "good man"-- morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, pious. Glowing attributes, any one or all of these words could be used to paint a picture of Jesus the Christ. But Mark 10:17-18 tells us: As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him, "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered, "No one is good--except God alone." What? Jesus Himself says that He, the Sinless One is not good?

This statement amazed the disciples and a little later in the chapter they asked Jesus "Who then can be saved (Mark 10:26b)?" To which Jesus replies "With human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God (Mark 10:27)."

Too often we think of ourselves or others as good simply because they have not hurt someone or sinned in a way that can be seen. But God sees. No matter how "good" someone tries to be, they will always come up short. If we acknowledge our sin and ask forgiveness there is hope! All is not gloom and doom! By opening ourselves to the gift of grace, we allow God to change us and to make us into humans who more closely resemble His Son.

On our own we will never be good; but forgiveness through Christ changes us in God's eyes. He no longer sees our sin but Jesus. In all His Glory.

I would rather be known as forgiven than good.