Good is just not good enough.
Those words were never spoken by our parents who epitomized the Greatest Generation.
Dad was born in 1911 and raised by his grandparents on a Missouri farm after his parents were simultaneously struck by lightning when he was 8.
Mom was born in 1919, raised on a farm in South Central Texas by parents who were first-generation German-Americans.
My younger brother and I were expected to do better than good. Our parents wanted us to excel in life.
Dad retired as a full colonel in the Army when he was only 44. Mom graduated from high school when she was only 16.
Even our teachers at Seguin High School where Mom graduated as well, expected us to excel under their tutelage decades later.
My Uncle Jimmy was a star athlete at Seguin High. I followed in his footsteps and excelled at sports while my younger brother excelled in academia.
Yes, we were rewarded for our effort and we have no regrets with their encouragement to be the best we could be.
Still, good was not good enough! Both our parents were brought up in Christian churches, but the Bible was not taught during our formidable years. Yet, it was a good upbringing.
Let’s dig deeper into the idea of human goodness.
In Isaiah 64 we are asked “How then can we be saved?” In verse 6 the prophet preaches “All of us have become as one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags: we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Now that may seem quite harsh, but there is good news. Isaiah prophesied that our Redeemer would one day cleanse us from all our unrighteousness.
It’s quite possible you think highly of yourself. You know the good you have accomplished so far, and others have commended you on your good works.
We all naturally covet recognition for our accomplishments. We may well have a number of certificates hanging on our office wall touting our achievements.
Sadly, a natural disaster could quickly remove any record of those special feats. Your good works may not be considered of any value at all.
If your effort is not for your Lord, it might as well not have happened.
Let me close with these salient words from the Apostle Paul: “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’”
Our purpose in life is quite simple. We have been created for our Creator’s good pleasure and His purpose. We have been placed on this planet to serve our Heavenly Father.
His Holy Word is our guide to a life pleasing to Him and Him alone. To God be the glory!