19 Mar How Good Do You Have To Be For God?
When I was growing up, at one time there were three teenage boys in our house, ages 14, 16, and 18, each of us thinking we should be “king of the hill.” We would get to “roughhousing,” in the living room, which was not a good idea on any level.
As we wrestled, pushed, and shoved, furniture would get scooted out of place, table lamps would get knocked over, magazines would go flying.
Our mother, who was nearly unflappable and approached sainthood in these moments, out of a sense of self-preservation would say, “You boys stop that.” We would keep wrestling.
Then, her normally placid voice would rise slightly in pitch and volume: “You boys stop that!” We would keep wrestling.
Finally, out of desperation, she would say, “YOU BOYS GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!” We would stop wrestling and get out of the house!
We would “lie low” for a while, on our best behavior until things blew over, and then quietly sneak back into the house, eager for things to return to normal. We earned our way back into her good graces by our good behavior.
In the early days of my Christian life as a young adult, I carried the memory of that experience over into my relationship with God. When I would do something that was wrong, I felt I would have to lie low for a while, on my best behavior, to try to earn my way back into His good graces.
The hitch was, I was never sure how good I had to be for how long before I earned my way back into God’s favor. I was never sure how good was good enough.
The question is, “How good do you have to be, for how long, to be “all right” with God?”
- For Heaven, You Are Already Good Enough for God
Heaven is a perfect place, and nothing will be let into it that is not perfect. So, what hope is there for us?!”
Well, because of our forgiveness in Christ and our new birth, God has made us already fit for heaven. Here are the things that are true of a child of God:
- We have been born again in holiness and righteousness. Ephesians 4:24 says, “Put on the new self which, in the likeness of God, has been created in holiness and righteousness of the truth.”
- God now considers us His children. 1 John 3:1 says, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are.”
- We are fellow heirs with God’s Son. Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
Because of the work God has done in our lives through Christ, we are already good enough to get into heaven.
- For Earth, God Just Wants Our Best
God wants us to do as well as we can. No more, no less.
Some have been given greater assets, opportunities, advantages than others, and to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). But the flip side is also true: to whom less is given, less is required.
In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, a master was preparing to leave for a trip, and gave his servants jobs to do while he was gone. One servant produced more than twice the results of another, but both were equally faithful to what they had been given, so both enjoyed the pleasure of their master.
- For Eternity, God Produces the Results and Rewards Us For Faithfulness
When it comes to spiritual results, we can do nothing (John 15:5). God produces all spiritual results. Our job is simply to be faithful to what He asks of us, trusting Him for the consequences.
In 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, we read, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
So, we are not rewarded for results. It is always God who causes growth. We are rewarded for planting and watering… only.
Conclusion
So, take comfort in this truth. You do not have to “lie low” and be good enough for long enough to satisfy God. You are already good enough for God to go to heaven. For earth, you must simply do your best. No more, no less. For eternity, you are rewarded, not for results but for faithfulness.
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