Nancy was a junior-high-school student who loved to draw and paint pictures. Her teacher liked her pictures and often hung them on the bulletin board of the class room or in the hall.
One day all the students in the art class were painting pictures. Nancy was busy painting a picture of a bowl of fruit. She thought it was a very good picture, one of the best she had ever done. “Mrs. Hastings will really like this one when she comes to look at our pictures,” she thought to herself.
Mrs. Hastings came around when the pictures were almost finished. She told several of the students how good their pictures were. When she came to Nancy’s she got a very disappointed look on her face and said, “I thought you could do better than that, Nancy. I’m a little disappointed in this picture.” Then she went on to point out the things that Nancy had done wrong.
Nancy had been so proud of her picture, and had been so sure that the teacher would like it. She had tried her best. When she got home she told her mother about her disappointment.
Nancy had done her best, but the teacher did not approve of it. How this reminds us of those who think that doing their best will get them to heaven; however, our best is nothing but filthy rags in God’s sight. (See Isaiah 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6).) Our best will never gain God’s approval. He says in His Word, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5). Salvation is a free gift and good works or deeds are not necessary to receive it. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
ML-09/21/1980