The other day, as I was driving home with my son, he turned to me and said, “Dad, you’re a good dad!” I felt a rush of mixed emotions. At first, I felt honored, but soon shame settled in, realizing how far I fall short of being a good father. I began to think of all the ways I have failed him—being harsh instead of loving, not spending enough time with him, not listening attentively when he shares his heart and excitement. In my son’s innocent eyes, I may seem like a good dad, but I see my own shortcomings more clearly.
Recently, Jesus’s words about goodness have deeply impacted me. He said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19). Our society often judges goodness based on the severity of our actions. We may consider ourselves good if we tell a few lies or have minor flaws, while we view those who commit serious crimes as evil. Yet, in God’s view, there is no such distinction—no one is truly good. Whether it’s telling a lie or causing harm, both fall short of true goodness.
People often claim to live a good life, but what does it really mean to be good? Is a good life enough? Jesus made it clear that no one is inherently good. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), He outlined what it means to be good:
- Anyone who is angry with a brother will be judged.
- Calling someone “worthless” or “stupid” makes one guilty.
- Looking at a woman with lust is committing adultery in the heart.
- Divorcing for reasons other than unchastity causes adultery.
- Marrying a divorced woman also constitutes adultery.
- Make no oaths at all.
- Love your enemies and do not resist an evil person.
- Do good in secret, without seeking praise.
- Forgive those who wrong you.
- Avoid greed and do not store up treasures on Earth.
- Do not worry.
- Judge not to avoid being judged.
- Treat others as you want to be treated.
This list is daunting, and I find myself guilty of many offenses. If these are the standards for being good, then I fall short. The perfect adherence to these principles seems impossible. Is there hope for us?
Romans 8:1 offers reassurance: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We are all sinners, inherently flawed. True goodness existed once when God created the world and deemed it “good.” But sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, corrupting that goodness. We are now broken reflections of what goodness once was. Only God is truly good.
Without Jesus, we are lost. We cannot stand before a good God with our inherent imperfections. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of taking on our sins and imperfections so that we might be reconciled with God. Through His sacrifice, we are made righteous, and it is only through Him that we find hope and redemption.
No one is good except God alone. Despite our best efforts to live good lives, we fall short of good. Living a “good” life is a lie that our society has bought into. Being a “good” person is not enough, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our only path to being reconciled to God is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In Him, and only through Him, can we be truly good.
Written by Dr. Kristopher Wallaert
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Christian Grandfather Magazine
Featured Image by Anna Palinska from Pixabay
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