You're not a Good person; why this truth shall set us FREE!

Most personal development and spiritual paths want to convince us of our goodness and this is where the trouble of our selfish and self serving nature starts to explode. 

Let me be clear- You are worthy. You are valuable. You are utterly loved and adored by the creator of all things. You are made in the image of perfection itself and you are not good, BUT you can be redeemed. 

I know your mind right now; "but I do good things, I try hard to think and to be a good person. I'm not a bad person, there's way worse out there than me. I'm a good person, mostly"

Mostly. Can any one of us claim to be truly good through and through? Can we honestly claim to be righteous, Holy, truly good? Let's battle test this with real life; if your body is perfectly healthy except for a malignant tumour growing in your stomach, are you truly healthy? When the fruit has started to rot but only one side is affected, can we claim that the other side is good, or just not yet rotten. The latter stands as truth because we know where the rest of the fruit is going if there is even a scrap of rottenness in the mix.

I can't claim goodness and neither can you.

Because we're not. We are fallible, susceptible to gossip, selfishness, emotional outbursts, haughtiness (think self righteousness), being critical and judgemental, unforgiving and unloving plus the rest- you and me both!

We have been deceived. While we cling to the notion of being a good person, we miss the richness of our fallen nature, our vulnerability and the transformational power of humbling ourselves before the mighty God. When we finally admit that no matter how hard we try, there is an innate part of ourselves that (secretly?) craves a little self destruction, vengeance or pettiness, we are finally (FINALLY!) able to be honest and truthful. 

And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32

Admitting that you're not good is not the equivalent to believing the lie of unworthiness. Let's not conflate the two. No human can claim goodness, not one of us. 

Well.....there was one guy once who could and was correct in His assertion. His name is Jesus who was wholly human and wholly God; it's a mind bender but that's for another conversation.

We will never live up to that standard on our own. And if you doubt me, give it a go for 30 days or a week or even a day and show me that in ALL your thoughts, desires, heart, actions, behaviour and beliefs you have been wholly good i.e righteous. 

• Not one selfish thought
• Not one venomous idea crossing your mind
• Not one act or inclination towards laziness, procrastination or fear
• Not one extra bite, not one moment of pride, not any unproducing fruit in your day
• Not one acting on temptation
• Not one moment either externally or INTERNALLY that you wouldn't want the whole world and God not only to see and share but to follow in your ways. 

Maybe you could for a day, maybe you're practicing everyday as best as you can and kudos to you for the effort but every time you end up falling off the wagon right? You're a work in progress you say and I believe you, I really do. I know you're trying and I know it's hard.

The good news is this: You can be made righteous. You can be made new. You can produce goodness through the grace of God's Holy Spirit and through the precious blood of His son Jesus. His Grace doesn't mean that you'll never stuff up nor that you'll find perfection in this lifetime but you will be transformed from the inside out. 

• Your thoughts will change, as will your desires
• Your heart will change, as will your perspective
• Your internal world will find true north
• Your attitude will shift, as will your actions
• You will be forever lovingly trained, guided and guarded by the one who make you
• You won't know how, just that it is happening

You will be restored to the Goodness He made you to be before this disease of more took a hold of our minds, corrupting our hearts and souls and causing the devastation and destruction of mankind ever since. 

You will be set free. 

You may not know God, you already have preconceptions about Jesus from culture, family, upbringing, Church or others and perhaps those places have turned you off wanting to know God. But He knows you and if you're here reading this, He is calling you by name. He wants you to put down the lies you've believed about Him and find out for yourself. 

Who is Jesus?

What does He claim?

Can I have a personal relationship with God?

You don't need to jump in, just ask the questions. Seek Him. Look for Him in earnestness and humble yourself enough to realise that perhaps, we are not the ultimate answer to all our problems. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13