Good but not Really…

One of the biggest challenges we face, both personally and as a society, is the belief that we are inherently good. Many of us understand and admire qualities like peace, patience, kindness, love, and empathy—qualities that come from God. But here's the deception: we often start to think that because we exhibit some of these characteristics, we have somehow become the “good ones,” and that others are the ones with the problems we can fix. This is a dangerous mindset. It leads us to believe that we have the answers to life’s struggles apart from Christ, and in doing so, we become blind to the deeper layers of sin in our lives. We might even convince ourselves that our own “goodness” is actually a reflection of God working through us, when in reality, it may simply be our ego trying to appear righteous.

This is a very subtle and destructive trap. The enemy knows how to deceive us into thinking that our efforts to be good are enough, that we’re somehow joining forces with Jesus by relying on our own strength. But this deception keeps us from experiencing the fullness of what God has for us. We often hold onto certain sins or flawed habits because we’ve convinced ourselves they have some value or purpose in our lives. These sins, which may seem harmless or justified, become hidden obstacles on our spiritual journey. We may think we’re doing “good” by showing kindness or patience, but we’re still missing the most important piece of the puzzle: a deep, personal relationship with Christ.

Living in sin, without being fully surrendered to God and without truly knowing Him, yet still trying to preach “goodness” to the world, is like trying to complete a puzzle while missing several pieces. No matter how much effort we put into it, we can’t complete the puzzle without every piece fitting into place. We might spend hours, even years, trying to force the pieces together, only to end up frustrated and lost. It’s like walking in circles, never getting closer to the solution. But the good news is that Jesus sees us, and He’s offering us the missing pieces—the pieces of the puzzle that only He can provide. However, in order to receive those final pieces, we must fully surrender to Him and let Him transform us. It’s only through this deep submission to God that we can complete the picture He’s designed for us.

Here’s something we need to understand: 99% of the truth is still not 100% of the truth. Any amount of truth that is mixed with our own ideas or perspectives, no matter how good it may seem, will always fall short. It will always lead us astray because it is not the whole truth—and the whole truth comes only from God. The enemy is skilled at taking parts of the truth and distorting them to fit our own desires or beliefs. But a truth that is only partial, a truth that is mixed with our own understanding, is never complete. This is why we must be careful when we rely on our own “truths” or experiences. Truth coupled with our own truth will always lead us to disaster. We cannot afford to rely on a half-truth, no matter how good it looks. The only way to reach 100% truth is by fully giving our lives to Christ and following Him completely in the Spirit. Only by surrendering ourselves completely to God and allowing His truth to guide us can we experience the fullness of life He has prepared for us.

Without submitting fully to God and allowing Him to remove our sinful nature, even our “good” actions are tainted by our own ego. We may do good things, but often, we do them to prove to ourselves that we are good, to feel better about the sins we haven’t fully dealt with. But when we truly submit to God, everything changes. Our good deeds no longer come from our own strength, but from God working through us. We realize that we can’t be good on our own. Any goodness in us is purely a gift from Him, and it’s only by His grace that we can live the life He calls us to.

Many times, when we think we have the answers, we can start to believe that we’re part of a “special group” of people who have been chosen to change the world. We might think we have the answers that others are blind to, and that we’re somehow above the rest. But this mindset, while it may feel empowering, always leads to turmoil and confusion. God didn’t call us to save the world on our own. He came to save the world through Jesus, and it’s only by His grace that we have any part in that mission. We don’t have the answers on our own; we need Christ at the center.

One of the hardest truths to accept is that many of us don’t want to receive the gift of grace that God offers. Instead, we want to be the gift of grace. This desire is deeply rooted in our sinful nature. It’s tempting to put ourselves at the center of everything because it gives us a sense of control and importance. But this mindset keeps us from experiencing the freedom and peace that come from fully surrendering to God. When we make God the center of our lives, something incredible happens. We begin to see all the ways we’ve been living under the influence of our ego. God starts to peel back the layers of deception, one by one, helping us see where we’ve gone astray, so we can experience true freedom. It’s a painful process, like peeling away the layers of an onion, but it’s necessary for our spiritual growth.

In order to experience true freedom and wisdom, we must first place God on His throne above everything else in our lives. We need to become like children who look to their Father for everything, completely dependent on Him. This means we need to honestly examine ourselves, looking in the mirror and turning away from the sins God has revealed to us—those habits, thoughts, and actions that do not align with His Spirit. It’s not about perfection, but about a willingness to acknowledge our need for His grace and transformation.

Remember, God loves us deeply. He is patient and gentle with us, guiding us through our struggles with love and compassion. His desire is not to condemn us but to free us, to help us live the full, abundant life He has prepared for us. The world responds to our actions. When we align our actions with God’s will, He will align the world to His purposes through us. Our success is not about our own glory; it’s about glorifying Him. When we make God the center of our lives, we’ll find that everything else falls into place.

So, let’s be honest with ourselves. We cannot change the world on our own. We cannot be good on our own. It’s only by fully submitting to God and allowing His grace to transform us that we can live the life He’s called us to. Let’s stop trying to fix the puzzle on our own and start relying on God to put the pieces together. 99% of the truth is still not the truth. Only through complete surrender to God can we access the fullness of truth and experience true goodness, wisdom, and freedom. And when we place Him at the center of our lives, everything else will align in ways we never imagined.