You're Not Righteous

Rom 3:10-12
"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one."

Romans Chapter 3 is a verse I now turn toward for comfort. One might consider the proclamation, "no one is righteous," as being a dismal and depressing revelation. I find comfort in the fact that I can't put my security and hope in any individual, even myself.

When I was young in the faith, I equated my understanding of God with my holiness before God. The more I knew about God, the more likely I was to find His favor. I now own a deep peace because I have dislodged that lie.

I even judged others whose understanding of God was foreign from my own understanding. I felt it was my civic duty to enlighten the world on how one should perceive his or her Creator. These standards, my standards, were clouded by my own immaturity and pride. Now I realize I am one of those people that Romans speaks about, not righteous.

Some of my posts in this very blog draw me to repent. I don't have it all together, and it is prideful of me to push my opinions on anyone. (I still think I have freedom to share my thoughts. I simply can't validate that all my thoughts are pure or 100 percent accurate.)

I find great peace in the fact that all human beings are on the same playing field. We all have flaws, blind spots, and weaknesses. We all judge unfairly, we all get passionate about our own agendas, and we aren't righteous.

I believe Jesus is the only deity who accepts us as we are. All other religions force people to jump through hoops and improve on themselves. Jesus wants to sanctify us, but that work is a work of grace. It is not dependent on our power or strength. In fact, it is dependent on our frailty and brokenness.

The gospel is such good news. I'm a failure, I'm a mess, I'm ignorant, I'm zealous without knowledge. Such wonderful news! Jesus still loves me!