Are there many good people among us who are not good according to the world’s standard, but according to God’s standard? About ancient Israel, God said, “For My people is foolish, they have not known Me, they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Jeremiah 4:22
Then as we come forward more than six hundred years, their condition had not changed. Paul writes, “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3:12
Now in the time of the end, we have a testimony from Ellen G. White, “The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt.” —Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 217
Can we pray to God asking Him to hear our prayer because we are so good? David prayed to God, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness sake, O Lord.” Psalm 25:7
David did not ask the Lord to remember him for his own goodness but for the goodness of the Lord.
Paul writes clearly, “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 7:18–19
This shows man’s helpless condition, and the reason why there are so few good people. He writes further, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:22-23
There is a war being fought within ourselves and our destiny depends on which one wins the war—the mind or the flesh.
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17
David said, “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97
But most of the people do not love the law, they obey it only for the fear of punishment and that is only superficial obedience.
Most of the people are selfish. A selfish person is not a good person. He is friendly with the people who benefit him, but their friendship is soon broken if someone tries to take advantage of him. Their eyes are open constantly to see opportunities for gaining benefits to themselves. Even the church services must be entertaining and interesting or they rather stay home.
Marriages are soon broken if they do not cater to his or her liking. Paul writes of the professed Christians in the last days. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5. [emphasis mine]
Paul said, “from such turn away.” Even God turns away from such professing Christians. “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from Me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.” Amos 5:21–23
Religion without true goodness is abomination to God. Those self-righteous Pharisees who seemed so holy from the outside Jesus called them children of the devil, because the goodness was lacking. Their Sabbath keeping, tithe paying, and other outward ceremonies did not make up for their lack of true goodness.
Even the men of God, patriarchs and prophets, are not perfect examples for us, only Jesus is.
Paul, who was the faithful apostle to the Gentiles, lost his temper when punished falsely. “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?” Acts 23:1–3
On the contrary when Jesus was accused and punished falsely, He did not open His mouth. He silently accepted all the abuse that was done to Him.
Moses had learned the lesson of true goodness. When Aaron and Miriam accused him falsely, he did not defend himself with even one word. “Their accusations were borne by Moses in uncomplaining silence.” —Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 384
The thief on the cross beside Jesus said to the other thief, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss.” Luke 23:40–41
Whenever something bad happens to us we need to say the same, “we suffer justly, we deserve this punishment.” Yet we do not suffer punishment for our sins, but rather a discipline, as a loving father disciplines his son for his good.
We read in Ezra, “Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve.” Ezra 9:13
David writes, “He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalm 103:10
This shows the goodness of our God. “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of The Lord.” Psalm 33:5. “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8
In order to be the children of God, we need to be good as He is good. “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45
There is no justice in the world, but with Christ, there is justice and mercy. If there would be justice only we all would be dead, for the wages of sin is death, but we live and we even have an expectation of eternal life.
Therefore should we ever complain if we are lacking something, because what we have is more than we deserve; especially when we see that every difficulty and trial is for our own good, for our character development?
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
King Jeroboam wanted to kill the prophet of God who prophesied against him, and when God punished the king that his hand withered, the prophet prayed for the king and his hand was restored.
“And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.” 1 Kings 13:4
Then the prophet of God prayed for him that his hand was restored to him again. This is true goodness, to pray for the enemy, who was about to kill him.
Job had a terrible experience, and his three friends turned to be his enemies, accusing and blaming him of wrong doings. But God forgave them when Job prayed for them.
Isaac showed true goodness when, after digging a well of water with hard work, the herdsmen of Gerar came and said, “this is our well.” Isaac just moved on and dug another well, but the herdsmen of Gerar came again and said, “this is also our well.” Instead of fighting for it he moved and dug a third well.
From this story of Isaac we learn that a good person does not fight for his rights. Paul writes, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” 1 Corinthians 13:4–5
Jesus said, “And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have your cloak also.” Matthew 5:40
Is this a standard of goodness? If our rights are abused, if we are taken advantage of by others, let them do it, and give them more even. Maybe now we understand why so few good people are in our world; who come up to the standard of heaven.
“True goodness is accounted of heaven as true greatness.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 305
“He [God] prizes goodness and faithfulness more than the greatness of the work accomplished.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 511
“Our first duty toward God and our fellow beings is that of self-development. Every faculty with which the Creator has endowed us should be cultivated to the highest degree of perfection, that we may be able to do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable.” –Child Guidance, p. 395
“Love, courtesy, self-sacrifice—these are never lost. When God’s chosen ones are changed from mortality to immortality, their words and deeds of goodness will be made manifest, and will be preserved through the eternal ages. No act of unselfish service, however small or simple, is ever lost. Through the merits of Christ’s imputed righteousness, the fragrance of such words and deeds is forever preserved.” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 270
“That which we do to others, whether it be good or evil, will surely react upon ourselves, in blessing or in cursing. Whatever we give, we shall receive again. The earthly blessings which we impart to others may be, and often are, repaid in kind. What we give does, in time of need, often come back to us in fourfold measure in the coin of the realm. But, besides this, all gifts are repaid, even in this life, in the fuller inflowing of His love, which is the sum of all heaven’s glory and its treasure. And evil imparted also returns again.” —Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 136
“Those who, so far as it is possible, engage in the work of doing good to others by giving practical demonstration of their interest in them are not only relieving the ills of human life in helping them bear their burdens, but are at the same time contributing largely to their own health of soul and body. Doing good is a work that benefits both giver and receiver. If you forget self in your interest for others, you gain a victory over your infirmities. The satisfaction you will realize in doing good will aid you greatly in the recovery of the healthy tone of the imagination. The pleasure of doing good animates the mind and vibrates through the whole body.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 534
The world is destitute of true goodness because parents have failed to teach their children true goodness by their words and examples.
Only those who have learned and practiced the true goodness will hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:21
When you learn to practice true goodness you will be like God is, you will be like Jesus, going about doing good.
If we will know true goodness and be truly good, we will make a good missionary, not preaching with words only, but also by your example. You will make a good husband or wife and a good example to your children.
May The Lord help us to learn the lesson of goodness while we have the opportunity and the time. Soon it will be too late. Amen.
Timo Martin