“I DON’T feel good enough,” said a woman in reply to the question, addressed to her at the bedside of her dying father, as to whether she had a good title to the eternal future. How deeply rooted self-righteousness is! She listened attentively whilst her interrogator sought to show her that it is no question of our goodness, but of God’s goodness to those who are bad. And we are, ill His sight, all by nature bad, irremediably bad. No doubt, as in the ruin of a building, there are many traces left in man which show the beauty which once characterized the structure. But sin has marred all the goodness originally bestowed by Him Who alone is good—God Himself. His solemn and unimpeachable verdict now upon all is, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Rom. 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)). How utterly vain, then, in the face of such sure testimony, to think of our own goodness before Him in any way whatever!
Do you wish to go right? Do you wish to escape the judgment of God and to dwell in happiness and blessedness with Him when you leave this world? Very probably you will reply in heart, “Of course we all wish that.” Well, there is only one possible way, and that is not by feeling or trying to feel good enough, which is wholly and solely your own righteousness, which God absolutely refuses; but by ceasing from self and your goodness and righteousness, and by submitting to His. And God’s righteousness is set forth in another Man altogether, even our Lord Jesus Christ in the glory of God.
Of course you do not feel good enough. How can a bad thing feel good, an unrighteous person feels righteous, or a sinner feel holy? Was there ever anything more incongruous? God says we are bad, irremediably bad; and so long as you look at yourself, badness and nothing but badness will you find. Bow then to God’s verdict about yourself: set to your seal that God is true. Learn that you are every whit as bad as God says that all are, and give up now, once and forever, all your vain efforts to make bad good, or evil righteousness, or sin holiness. The question for you is, not do you feel good enough, but do you feel bad enough? Man’s thoughts travel express speed to vindicate themselves, but at the very slowest pace to the only point where God and sinners can meet. It is only when we arrive at the point of the discovery of our utter badness, and our lips own it and cry with Isaiah “Woe is me, for I am undone!” that the grace of God waits upon us.
What do people who think they are good, or feel or try to feel they are good, want of a Saviour? None such has yet felt the need of Him. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour Whom God has provided, is for sinners—sinners of every class and kind—not for Satan-deceived, self-deceived good people. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)).
The fact of a person saying “I do not feel good enough” is clear evidence that the feeling of badness is there, with the sense that only goodness will do for God. Precisely. Nothing else will. But how is that goodness to be obtained? By the heartfelt confession of our badness and the hearty acceptance of Christ. In Him, and in Him only, can any fallen sinner of Adam’s race find goodness. God found goodness, perfect goodness, in Him. He, the good One, died on Calvary for God’s glory, and for all of us, the bad. He bore the judgment of sin, He finished the work of redemption, He gave up His life, His blood was shed, which cleanseth us from all sin; He was buried in the grave, He rose triumphant from the dead, He is seated at God’s right hand, and He is made of God wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption unto us—unto all that believe. Having glorified God, He is before Him in all His goodness. God delights in that blessed One. He has found the goodness He requires in Christ, and hence He is not seeking it in you.
Then why, on the verge of eternity, waste your precious life in vainly and blindly hunting for goodness in your own deceitful heart? So long as you are seeking to feel good, you are only disqualifying yourself for coming to Jesus. It is those who feel bad enough to deserve the eternal judgment of God that really come to Him. Having lost hope through our own badness, a ray of hope springs up in the heart when we begin to discover that God has found all He requires in Another, and offers Him to us.
Now, then, dear friend, what say you? Will you let self go for Christ? Here is your opportunity. It may be your last. A Saviour you need, a Saviour you must have; and a present, perfect Saviour He is, for every one that believeth.
Man is already lost; and hence if you live without Christ you will die without Him, and if you die without Him you will be raised without Him, and if you are raised without Him you will be judged without Him, and if you are judged without Him you will assuredly be condemned. “He that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:1616He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16)).
Will you, then, take God at His word? Will you own in the light of His holy presence that goodness you have none, and as a good-for-nothing bad one believe on His Son? His precious blood will cleanse you whiter than snow; and in Him, risen from the dead, goodness and righteousness will be yours before God forever. Then the wondrous grace of God that brings the believing soul into this blessing will teach us henceforth to walk in goodness according to God (Eph. 5:8,98For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (Ephesians 5:8‑9); Titus 2:1212Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:12)). E. H. C.
Not I, but Christ. — “Christ has become my one study, but I am a dull scholar. What I have already learned makes me count all but dross for Him. My vileness is most felt in His clear light. The more precious He grows, the more humbling views I get of myself. As Christ rises, self falls.”
W. R.