You are worse than you think you are.
Most people react to that statement in one of three ways. First, they will argue and say, “That is not true. I am a good parent. I give to the food bank. I help my neighbour. I am a good person.”
Another reaction is to make excuses such as, “If I had more time, I would do more good things.” Lastly, they may compare themselves to others and say, “I may not be perfect, but I am better than him.”
If they are really being honest, though, most people know that the statement is true. Deep down, past all the things that make me look good, I know that I am too angry, too greedy, too envious, too fearful, too materialistic, too… (fill in the blank).
Even the best of us have corners of our lives that need to be swept out and cleaned up.
It may not surprise you, then, that one of the messages of the Bible is that we are not good enough. In fact, the theme of the entire first half of the book of Romans and it is summed up in this verse: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
No one has done everything they should have done. Everyone has failed. You are not as good as you think you are.
However, the good news is that there is another Biblical message that says, “You are far more loved than you know.” Romans is a good source for this truth as well. “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6 and 8).
As he was hanging on the cross, after being betrayed, beaten and mocked, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
They were completely wrong, but Jesus loved them enough to not only forgive them, but to also die for them and pay for their eternal forgiveness. That is the Good News.
Sometimes the church gets off-base arguing and teaching about things that are of secondary importance (or less). However, the cross and God’s grace needs to be our focus and our message.
That is our only hope.
