The Danger Of Morality Thinking

Morality apart from Jesus has no value. That is a truth to keep in mind as we progress through life. It is good to be good but it has no eternal value without a relationship with Jesus. Stay with me for a second here as we process this reality. The psalmist wrote:

O my soul, you have said to the Lord,
“You are my Lord,
My goodness is nothing apart from You.” (Psalm 16:2)

Our salvation is not found in ourselves because it is a free gift offered to us by Jesus. We can do nothing to save ourselves. Living a good life, being good, being kind, being a nice person is all well and good but it has nothing to do with our salvation. Our salvation begins and ends with Jesus because he is the only one capable of giving us salvation. What does it take to be saved? Believe and accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In other words, admit you are a sinner, that Jesus wants to save you from that sin, and believe that he has. That is it.

We get it wrong when we push morality before relationship. We are saying being good will make us worthy of salvation. We probably don't think that way but it is how we act and how we present. We must remember that Scripture tells us "While we were still sinners Christ died for us". We were not required to be righteous, morally fit to receive salvation. It is hard sometimes to keep it straight in our thinking.

I have a couple of children who have yet to receive Jesus. I am not happy with how they have chosen to live but their actions are only a symptom of their lack of Jesus. Should my concern be about their actions or their heart condition? The fact they are without Jesus should be the topic of my prayers and my conversation, not an effort to convince them conform their actions.

"My goodness is nothing apart from you" should be the overwhelming message in the Church. Too many unsaved people are sitting in our pews thinking they are okay because their behaviour falls into the acceptable norm. True goodness springs from a heart possessed by Jesus Christ; we don't gain a possessed heart by our goodness.