Good Isn’t Good Enough

Good Isn’t Good Enough


All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Romans 3:12 New International Version


I had a strange conversation with a coworker. She came to my desk to tell me that she is a good person. I replied, “That’s good.”
She said, “Good people get into heaven. That’s where I am going because I deserve it.”
“What makes you think that being good is good enough?”
“All the good stuff I do for others earns that for me. I have earned it by now,” she said.
“Well, how do you know you have done enough to earn it?” I said. “Isn’t it possible that you have the amount per deed incorrect? And who set the value of each deed anyhow?”
After a long pause I asked her, “Do you own heaven?”
“No . . . what does that have to do with anything?”
I said, “Well, think of it this way. If your son came home with a friend and asked if the boy could stay for awhile you would normally say yes. Why? Because the other person was brought to you by your son. What if a complete stranger came and asked the same question, would you let him or her stay at your house?”
She said, “No.”
I told her that is the same way with God. He lets people in that come with His son. If you don’t know God’s son, how do you expect to gain entry?

I am appalled at the mentality of some people. I felt like telling her to think these things through. Don’t serve up some half-baked idea and expect me to bless it. Gee Whiz! Think about it. If we had to earn it, we would do what was necessary, and then our good deeds would fall off after that. Also, if we could earn it, we would be arrogant about our accomplishments. What if some are incapable of earning it? How do those get salvation? The fact is none of us can measure up to God’s expectations. According to the Bible, good isn’t good enough, but that’s the good news. The good news is that it was already earned for us by Jesus as he hung on the cross. Our only option now is to accept that Jesus paid the debt or shun the heavenly admission ticket.

The irony in all this is not necessarily that my friend was acting on faulty information about God. But that some people that are educated believers still try to earn admission into Heaven. We should be doing our good deeds out of gratitude, not to deposit more God dollars into our heavenly accounts.

A Spiritual Birthday Dream

A Spiritual Birthday Dream


So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 New International Version


Not long after the death of my father, I had a brief series of dreams about him. One of them seemed more like a memory of a Hollywood film than a fabrication of my subconscious or a message from God. In fact, I remember it more vividly than I remember him.

I dreamed that my dad was walking on a dirt road. He had a familiar pair of brown corduroy pants, a pin-striped white dress shirt and a matching brown sweater. He carried his cane for balance and also a beam of expectancy on his face. His old shuffle was present as he held the hand of someone I could not identify. As the two continued to walk, my dad dropped his cane and pulled off the sweater. The shuffle turned to a stride and they both quickened pace. Then the strangest thing appeared right before my dream eyes, dad began to reverse in age. It was strange to see the bright colors of a sunset change and watch him devolve to a young boy of maybe thirteen or fourteen years. In a brief time, I saw him as I was accustomed to seeing him. I saw his age, frailty and his perishing body. Then, in this spirit dream, if it was such, I saw his body fill with youth and take on strength in a spiritual way.

By the end of the dream, he was much younger than I was at the time. It was sort of odd to be present with your father when he looks younger than yourself. And even though his appearance was unlike anything I would have ever seen, I still recognized him. I awoke with tears, excitement, and longing to go back to sleep so I could talk with him. I never had any more dreams about him after that. I imagine the reason is that he was now sown or birthed into the spirit world; a place where we no longer wear out, take ill, age, or die. If my Spiritual Birthday will be anything like his, I’m looking forward to it.

Kingdom Authority

Kingdom Authority
When Jesus began to wash the feet of those he loved, Peter refused. He
would never let his master stoop to such a menial service on his behalf.
It sounds like a statement of humility; in reality it was an act of
veiled pride. Jesus’ service was an affront to Peter’s concept of
authority. If Peter had been the master, he would not have washed feet!

It is an act of submission and service to allow others to serve us. It
recognizes their “kingdom authority” over us.
- Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

I haven’t any reasonable answer as to why the thought has so heavily
weighed upon me. Nonetheless, it is there. I keep wondering if God is
showing me some item where I excel or if I need to be humbled in my
attitude and in my spirit. This thought that haunts me is about service
for others.

I love Foster’s phrase “kingdom authority.” I like the idea that
Jesus has turned greatness on its ear by making those that serve of
“kingdom influence” and princely heritage. Somehow, when we cut
someone’s grass, make a meal, listen to them talk or even spend
time with them to remove their anxiety; we take on some God given right to humble filled greatness. And the one in receipt of this service is
the one that is in submission.

Many times I aspire to be better than I am which is okay to do. But in
my desire for great achievements, I think I have forgotten that a greater
thing is when I trust God or when I put myself in line to help someone
or when life is enhanced with Godly awareness. None of those things
carry with it a paycheck, but they carry Kingdom value that cannot be
assessed fully until the Father takes final account.

How do you measure greatness? Is it in some human achievement or in a
pail of dirty foot water?

Romans Road Part Four – Make it Personal

Romans Road Part Four – Make it Personal

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Mark 5: 18-19 NIV

As cool as the Romans Road is, I think it incomplete. The Romans Road tells us the process and procedure of salvation. The Romans Road is sort of like lifting the hood on a car. You get to see the inner workings, why it does what it does. But you need to get on the road to truly experience it.

My Romans Road has not been anything that I would have expected. While on the road I have had to face my failure as a husband, father, son, brother and as a friend. I think it odd how pain and failure has caused me to see things more clearly, or at least differently. I now understand the words from a song I heard, "We fall down, but we get up". I am starting to understand Grace, now that I have a real need for it. But pain is not the only thing I found on the road.

This world, the struggles and the pain do not represent the whole of life. My road is brimming with hope too. I am looking forward to the days that Jesus has promised. He says that he will turn the bad experiences into something good for the ones that depend on him. And he says that he is preparing a place for me that is so awesome, I will need to see it to believe it. And you know what, I believe him. For I have seen enough in this world, to believe him for the next.

While traveling on the road I sometimes look back and see a strange sort of redemption at work. From God’s view, my redemption was purchase a few thousand years ago. From my perspective it is something that is being worked out daily. I am starting to see that God has purchased me from my exploits and failures. The currency He used was His son…, battered and nailed to a cross. When I look around me I see the prayers of family, friends and even strangers. Their prayers (and God’s Spirit) are my traveling companions. They buoy me when I am down. And when I look ahead I see... well, I’ll wait for you to join me on the road. You will be able to see it for yourself.