I try to do what’s right. Sometimes I mess up, and sometimes I mess up even worse. However, I generally tend to strive towards doing what’s right.
I’m not the only one.
Everyone is trying to be good. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s commendable, but how we measure our performance is off. We do not often ask ourselves what is excellent to do, but rather what is “okay” to do.
Is sex before marriage “okay”? Is social drinking “okay”? Is foul language “okay”? Is gossip “okay”? Is crude humor “okay”? Why do we wonder what is “okay” or “socially acceptable” when we are called as Christians to be “excellent” and “morally commendable”?
We know from the Bible that mediocrity is not God’s standard. Jesus says in Revelation, “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:16 NKJV). Jesus leaves no room for “okay.”
At the end of things, the question we ask ourselves shouldn’t be “Was I good enough?” The question should be “Was I great enough?” Fortunately, we have Jesus to intercede for our mediocrity, but we should always strive to “run the race as to win the prize. (1 Cor. 9:24b)”
We also have to be careful not to change our standards just because our culture changes. In James 1:17, God is called “the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” As Creator, God does not follow His creation. If He did, He wouldn’t be much of a master, would He? If God doesn’t change, why should we, those made in His image change?
Excellence is not what saves us. Jesus saves us, but excellence sets us apart as being the followers He desires us to be.