You’ve often heard it said by people that they don’t need faith in God, religion, a book of moral codes, or governmental authority in order to be good or do good things. You’ve often heard it said by other people that their faith in God, religion, book of moral codes, or governmental authority allows them to be good or do good things.

In either case, I would have to say this. What’s another word for humans trying to be good and do good things? In my opinion, these words come to mind.

Pride. Conceit. Arrogance. Self-aggrandizement.

The most fundamental belief I have next to the belief that Jesus is Lord is that man is wicked. I’m afraid this is one area where it’s pretty hard not to have a black-and-white view. Either mankind, both individually and collectively, has lived up to its created potential, or it hasn’t. If it hasn’t, then there’s something very wrong in our world. If it has, then I invite you to explain why every single human being on the face of the earth, at one point or another, has lied, or cheated, or lashed out in selfish anger, or gossiped, or slandered, or abused their bodies, or abused other people, or murdered.

I hope this doesn’t come out sounding harsh, but I’m tried of trying to be good and do good, and I’m tried of other people attempting the same. We need wake up and realize the truth: that goodness is something we can’t attain to apart from God. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. What is sin? Sin is the state we’re in because we’ve fallen short of the glory of God. Sin is not living up to our created potential. When we humble ourselves before God and accept the miraculous, cleansing power of Jesus’ blood as the only answer to the blackness of our hearts, then we are truly free. Free to be good and to do good things, because we’re not alone anymore. God is on our side.

Are you tired of trying to be good and do good things, and failing? I know I am. But I know the One who holds the power of life and death in His hand, and I choose Life.