redemption

Read Part 1 here.

Yes, we are good.  AND, yes, we are bad.  

In his book, Changes that Heal, Dr. Henry Cloud discuss a mixing of Good-Bad. The G-B nature we have received has potential to destroy our perceptions of ourselves and others. Cloud mentions that a mature persecutive on our true nature will both accept our capacity for both. Apart from this maturity, we find ourselves self-loathing, unforgiving, bitter and alone. Such depravity means an existence void of trust. In its deepest state we refuse to even allow God’s grace to be sufficient over our sin. Such an existence leads to unconscionable misery and utter loneliness.

Too often we allow the proud of our accomplishments to cloud our rightful standing before God. At times we will even pursue a “Pride of failure” – believing that our mistakes are ours alone as well as all suffering that comes with them.  Such an attitude stems from our born-addiction to the flesh – that natural inclination to choose disobedience, painful burdens and

What do we do then with what remains? How do we embrace a stained mark upon every heartbeat and live for and serve others? How did the Savior embody such a love knowing what capacity for both good and bad lurked within his followers – and enemies? And yet, he offered his very blood as a ransom for all.

And this leads to the final truth and main point of this blog: Not only are we GOOD and BAD…WE ARE REDEEMED.

AW Tozer once wrote in prayer, “Lay upon the Thy easy yoke of self-forgetfulness, that through thee I might find rest.”  It was for rest…for freedom of self…that Christ offered himself into the wrath of God.  Such an extravagant gift was paid so that you and I might relinquish the pride of all we have wrought and discover that God’s goodness in us and our natural tendencies to sin are interwoven in a new fabric of Truth, namely that we are His.

If you, like me, tire of the constant ebbing and flowing of righteousness and repentance, it is because we are being remade to enjoy God forever.  Such enjoyment does not ignore the progress of Holiness in us, nor does it ignore the gravity of sin.  It makes us grateful.  It makes us Christ’s workmanship, it makes us ready to be used.  Perhaps this is the journey of healing for so many of us.

So may the journey bring you freedom to be God’s cherished child without fear, pride or guilt. And may you find rest in knowing that you are good, bad and redeemed.

We have all heard it before – the familiar tune of a spoken defense of humanity’s attempt to live out its days without complete fault. Even we have fallen victim to its enticing tongue that whispers, “people are mostly good.”

It’s is strange that most often hold this thought captive when we desire to value life – often choosing to trust someone when others might be less willing. Some might hope beyond reason that people are capable of change, believing a cosmic force to relinquish wrath for the sake of the good left among the earth-dwellers.

I have wished it myself a countless number of times. Yet the perfect Word of God speaks clearly on the subject.

• “There is no one righteous. No, not one.” Romans 3:10
• “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

It is not without hope one subscribes to such a sentiment. Believing we are essentially good takes considerable faith — only in the wrong Being. When man and woman were carved from the flesh of the earth, there was a glimpse of humanity’s perfect reflection of the Creator. For a breath of a moment, we were good. In fact, all things were good.

It is in that reflection – that we are made in his Image – that we hold any glimmer of goodness. It is something that God still sees when he looks at broken mirrors, a likeness to himself. Something akin to good-ish-ness.  Still marred by the stain of sin, yet reminiscent of the Garden.

Unfortunately this is not what makes God “like us” or even “save us”. Since it no longer possesses holiness, that marred image of divinity is worthless. The choice(s) of Adam and Eve to disobey the Creator in the Garden (Gen 3) has been passed into all and thus whatever good remains has also been spliced into the Bad.

(to be continued.)