How to Be Good

Now we know that we have freedom in Christ and that by Works we are not saved.  But we cannot argue that Jesus taught us to me more than just good.

Reading Matthew 5 through 7, Jesus tries to show us that even accepted and traditional ways of thinking we are good are not enough.  He wants us to see that behind every action there is dark stirrings that cause those actions and these are the things that must be corrected.

Never do we hear Jesus saying that we can continue with our current course or way of doing things.  He encourages us constantly to change our view and run everything through Him so that it may be purified and connected with Him.  This we do with our great acts of kindness and worship, but we also must learn to do it with such simple things such as eating or drinking.  In fact, we should learn to make each and everything we do, into an act of worship, whether it be thought, feeling or action.

But even though it may seem clear that this should be our goal, we might not always find any real encouragement as to just how to accomplish it.

To make the matter of even more importance and to give more weight to the necessity of our being righteous, Jesus goes further than the action and says that even though we have heard not to be bad, there are simple things that we do to offend our God.  It is not good enough to keep from killing, but we shouldn´t get angry.  It is not enough that we do not commit adultery, but we shouldn´t even let our hearts gaze at the attractive people.

It may seem too much.  The more we read the more we find ourselves short of fulfilling all the requirements and therefore stand accused and unworthy.  So then what is the key?  Do we need to try harder?  Where can we turn?  Will more Bible meetings or study help?  Should I confess my sins or become more active in the church?  What more can be done that I am not already doing so that I can feel just a little reassurance that my offering is acceptable and pardon is given?  How can I actually hear my sweet Savior say that it is finally done and I have been a good servant?

Many questions, only One answer.

An honest person who reads carefully the scriptures knows that it is impossible for mankind to be perfect.  Like the butterfly that goes through the change from one form to another, we should see that it is our very nature and the very essence within us that must change in the end.  This is not something that our tampering will ever be able to actuate.  Like putting a bandage on a cancerous wound, we are not able to accomplish this readjustment of our complete fallen nature.

Jesus held out His hand to us and there are still those who will put their faith in Him.  He accomplished what only He could do to restore the lost race to it´s Righteous Maker.  He also became the only cure for what ails us.  Therefore the healing can only come from Him.  Only He can do it.

Have you ever had a difficult problem or habit that you tried to stop doing?  You knew that you needed to correct it but couldn´t find a way to overcome yourself?  Like trying to stop smoking for example.  You may attend meetings, there are many devices, psychological tricks and medications to assist you.  But somehow you have to struggle through the process to your own painful undoing.  Now we can try to attack this problem of our nature in the same form but Jesus has already warned us that this is not where we need to look.

Jesus is there, He is perfect and He is the cure.  Not only is He the only One who can rid you of your cancerous disease, but He is also the only way as well.

There are no methods and there are no spiritual devices.  There in nowhere else you can turn not even to the meetings.  More Bible study and meetings do work wonders, but the actual healing only starts as you approach Him.  Let this be clear, Jesus is alive, He wants to help.  But you and I must reach a point personally where you can sit together with Him.  We need to spend time in His presence and actually hear His voice.

It is not good enough to know of a good doctor. You have to go to him, let him examine you, to touch you and to work closely with you until the healing process has had time to effectuate.

Christ is the best doctor there is.  But we will need to draw so close to Him, that His nature is able to cover our own.  Our righteousness will never be enough.  We need to clothe ourselves with His righteousness.  Therefore healing begins with this closeness.

When Jesus has complete reign within our hearts, when we are finished fiddling with our souls, then He is there to supply us with the cure.  It is free for us to have but it will cost us the giving up of our very selves to Him.  It will not be our own soul in the end which will stand to face the Judge and Jury, it will be some magical transformation where Christ has covered our old nature with His own.

We will be given a new heart and a new soul.  He will be our God and we will be His people.  Then we will be healed.  We will have a new heart.  We will be made perfect, but make no mistake, the glory goes to Jesus because it is not our righteousness, but His.  But by being so close to Him, His righteousness has blinded out or burned out that of our own.

May the healing process start today.  May we, His people return to Him.  Not in word or deed alone but in actual living experience.  Let us draw that close to Him.  Let us learn to live and breathe Him, to eat and drink Him.  Let us live so fully in Him that in the end His perfection will become our perfection.  Then we will have comfort because this kind of bonding will be for eternity.

In Him,

Amen

Scott W