I fear for our society. We live in a confused world, and that shouldn’t be surprising since we live in a world that does not want to acknowledge God, the One who is not the Author of Confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Today’s society is lost. It’s lost and it’s searching for something, instead of Someone, Jesus Christ. And unfortunately, people don’t realize that the beauty in searching for Christ is that He allows you to find Him. The game of hide-n-seek we think He’s playing is actually us hiding from Him.
Some way, somehow, we’ve convinced ourselves that because I have the right, it is right. That’s certainly not true. And somehow, we’re operating under the belief that if a person means well that should be good enough.
We live any kind of way, and then run for cover under the umbrella of grace as our self-storm of sins pours down. And don’t get me wrong, God is gracious. He’s so gracious that even though He knows, and we know we won’t do better, He’s still willing to extend a handful of forgiveness, grace, and mercy.
I fear that not just society, but Christians are in a place where we want our good intentions to get us an honorable mention before God. I fear us valuing a wrong belief system. One that says, if we do enough good, we are good enough. One that says if we meant well, that’s just as well. And sadly, I think many of us are beginning to believe that God should be satisfied with us trying or intending. Christians, who know better do better, and understand that God can’t be satisfied with us being our second-best selves when He created us for so much.
As for intentions, God examines our true intentions, and He says it’s a sin if you know you can do better and still don’t. When you do God’s will, God’s way, in humility before Him, no honorable mention is necessary. God, Himself, will honor you. (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6)
Proverbs 16:2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
James 4:17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.