A Good Person?

     We seem to have the idea that there are "good" people in this world. We look at those around us, and see the good husband who loves his wife, the good father who faithfully provides for his family, and the good wife and mother who works hard to raise her family. We see the next door neighbor who always has a nice thing to say about others, and the business man who donates to charity on a regular basis.
     By these, and other similar standards, the world seems to be filled with good people. Of course we realize that there are people out there who are serial killers, and some who have committed other serious crimes such as armed robbery, but overall, our friends and neighbors are basically "good people" in our estimation.
     A rich young man approached Jesus, asking, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  In response, Jesus tells this man that there is no one good but God alone (Matt 19:16-17). How can this be? Jesus is saying that there is none good but God. What about all of the hard working nice people in the world; people who mind their own business, treat others kindly, say nice things about others, and so on?
     Read what the Apostle Paul says about good people,

     As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
     There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
     Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
     Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood:
      Destruction and misery are in their ways:        
     And the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.
      Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
                                      Romans 3:10-20 KJV

     Paul is in agreement with Jesus. There is no one good, no one who seeks after God! I can't help but notice how this passage in Romans emphasizes speech. Deceit, slander, cursing, and bitterness; how many "good" people are in full control of their tongues? James tells us that the tongue is an evil, destructive force, full of poison (James 3:5-8). Jesus tells us that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. We will someday have to give an account of every idle word we have spoken (Matt 12:33-37). How many "good" persons have never told a lie, even a "little" one? I think at one time or another, we have all cursed, or all partaken of gossip, maybe shared a dirty story or two. Where does this leave many of us? We are not so good by these New Testament standards.
     Let's move on to those whose feet are swift to shed blood. We would all agree that someone who has murdered another, is not a good person. What about abortion? We have legalized the murder of the unborn in this nation. While doctors, scientists, and politicians debate over the point that life begins, thousands upon thousands of innocent children have been murdered, and tossed out as medical waste. We have been numbed into accepting abortion as a "medical procedure," but in the eyes of the Holy God, it is murder. There are thousands of "good" persons who have participated in this sin, and are guilty of murder.
     Jesus equates anger with murder as well (Matt 5:21-22). He warns us that to hurl insults at another in anger, exposes your soul to judgment. How many of us have said harsh things to another person in a fit of rage? This is considered just as evil as murder by God. Hatred and the refusal to forgive another, would also be condemned by the spirit of this commandment. Many "good" individuals harbor bitterness and anger against another person. We may not see it on the outside, but deep inside of their hearts, they are killing their neighbor.
     James confronted the sin of partiality in the early Church. To be prejudiced toward another person is to be a transgressor of the law. In this case, it would be the prohibition against murder (James 2:9-11). If you follow this train of thought, an individual who is prejudiced towards a racial group, is no better than an individual who is guilty of genocide. The spirit of prejudice was festering in Adolph Hitler's heart long before he murdered millions of Jews during the holocaust. This is a very sobering thought, and should change the way we look at human "goodness."
     John condemns the hatred of ones brother as murder, and then goes even deeper, to show us that if we refuse to come to the aid of a needy brother, we do not have the love of God in us (1 John 3:14-18). To be sure, there are many people who care for the needy, but there are many more who turn a blind eye to the needs around them, and in God's eyes this is sin.
     We could look at covetousness as well. This was the downfall of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus (Matt 19:21-22). The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, also fell to this sin (Romans 7:7-8). Many "good people are living their lives in pursuit of material things. There are people who we would call "good,"  who look at the success of their neighbors with disdain. They are jealous of their possessions, they complain about their promotions, they try to keep up with them in the way they dress, the cars they drive, and so on. This is covetousness, and it amounts to idolatry. In reality, a covetous person is a greedy person. How can a person be "good" and greedy at the same time?
     There are many "good" people who have been divorced and remarried. There are others who fantasize about another person. They would never have an affair of course; they think it is ok just to look. Now if these people had committed adultery, we would consider that they might not be so good after all. The thing is however, Jesus considers these actions as adultery. He condemns both divorce and remarriage (except for fornication), and lustful thoughts, as adultery (Matt 5:27-32).
     One needs only to examine the ten commandments to see that he or she falls far short of God's standard of what is good. Millions of "good" people violate these principles everyday. "Good" people lie, they steal, they dishonor their parents, and then justify their actions with a myriad of excuses. They may seem like "good" people in their own eyes, and in the eyes of their peers, but what really counts is God's opinion. He is the one who sets the standard, and He is the one who will judge every person according to their deeds (Rev 20:12-15).
     As we read in the above passage in Romans, we are all guilty before God. Every mouth is stopped; we have no excuse, the law convicts us of our sin. There are no "good" people apart from Christ. All of our good deeds, and self efforts are futile, because we are already lawbreakers. As James says, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10 KJV).
     We are all guilty of sin, and much more, that sin has been against God. We have grieved and offended Him. Many say that they love God, but their actions show the opposite. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments. Our love of the world and its ways show that we are actually enemies of God (John 14:21-24; Romans 8:7; James 4:4). Look at the many people who use the name of Jesus as a curse word, yet they say they believe in God. Even the devils believe and tremble (James 2:19).
     The law shuts us up under sin, that is, it shows us that we are sinners, and deserving of the just wrath of God. It gives us no hope, only just condemnation.
     Our only hope is found in Christ Jesus, the one we have spurned. He died on a Roman cross, paying the penalty for our sin, rising on the third day, and now ascended to the right hand of God the Father. It is through faith in Him, that we can be born again unto a new life, free from the guilt and power of sin. We are told that the grace of God that brings salvation, has appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. Instead, we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age (Titus 2:11-12). It is not by our own works of righteousness that we are saved, but by His mercy. He will wash you, and regenerate you, by the power of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5), if you will turn from your sin, and surrender your life to Him by faith.