What Is Good?

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. [Micah 6.8]

What is good?

1. Do what is right
2. Love mercy
3. Walk with God

Based on my previous statements regarding good and evil, the presence of these three things in the life of any person displaces and dispels the default resident evil that many times cloaks itself as nothingness. I am still trying got get my head around the thought that evil is not so much a force as it is the leftover condition without good. When good is removed, what is left is evil (as if it were equivalent to "empty").

Now, we see "good" people all the time. Perhaps they do what is right. Perhaps even they love mercy. But if they do not walk with God it is of no use (of certainly of no good). This is where the deception comes from - people thinking they are good enough to enter heaven. They feel as if any little bit of good qualifies them for entrance and permanent residence. But "good enough" and "perfection" neither are, nor ever will be, synonymous.

Let's say good is white paint to be applied to the black page of evil. The page will forever be seen and understood as black unless it is every bit covered by the white. It will only be seen as a white page if it is completely and thoroughly painted white. Any hint of visible black removes the notion that the page is white. A stroke of white paint or even a submersion in white paint cannot (is not good enough) to actually change the black page.

That is a picture of good and evil. Once Adam and Eve sinned, the page of mankind’s life became evil. The only way to overcome the evil at all is to overcome it all: doing right, loving mercy, and walking with God. A stroke of doing right does not paint the entire page. A splash of mercy does not cover the backdrop. A hit-and-miss visit with God does not constitute a relationship (walking with Him).

The fact is, we can never do enough good, love mercy enough, or walk with God enough to change what we are by default.

Enter Jesus.

Jesus' life was never anything but good. Never was seen any hint of a different life underneath - a life that would indicate a default evil. By His own admission, Jesus was doing good, loving mercy, and walking with God on behalf of those who would believe. He is only "good enough" to do this because He is perfect.



Father, I could go on and on about this and still not competently describe what Jesus has done for me in return for my trust. I believe Lord that I am evil and no amount of good I do is good enough. I need Jesus.