Now and then, a friend or community member has declared to me, “you’re a good man.” One of the most interesting things about being told that is the immediate rush of blood to my ego, which, in its pure and distilled form, is my biggest obstacle for goodness.

I’m willing to accept that from an average human viewpoint that I’m at least a neutral guy and probably even a reasonable “good” person in that I have not committed any major crimes and do try, most of the time, to avoid minor infractions as well. I’ve never aced the test, but I do try to be generous, honest, kind, and observe behavior that is considered by most “good.”

It is the flip side that most people see less of that is my problem. I am selfish every day in small and often easy to hide ways. I have thoughts and attitudes running rampant through my head at times which would convict me if broadcast on a screen. I struggle with impatience, a judgemental attitude, and many more violations of goodness.
Then there are my good moments which are sometimes the result of less than laudatory motivations. Sometimes I do good things for reasons much less noble. Being good sometimes gets me what I want, whether it be praise, reward, or some other positive result. Sometimes I am good just to avoid a bad outcome, not because of any virtue. (For instance, I always obey the speed limit in the presence of law enforcement).

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

(Mark 10:18)

So am I a good man? In a comparative sense maybe, but not objectively. Any honest core sample will reveal far too many impurities to be considered really good. So why do people call me a good person?
The biggest reason is that there is a contravening force at work in me. Fighting against my selfishness, my self-centered motives and my desire for ease and reward, is an outside force that I have welcomed in. This Spirit is actually good and represents not comparative goodness, but absolute pure goodness. He comes, not because I did something that merited it, but because He did something that allows me to accept Him.

Some time back I invited Him into my existence and asked Him to remake the confused and flawed being that is me. The renovation isn’t complete, and there are many many times that you will still see me clearly with its flaws and blemishes. Fortunately, there are other times where His influence and love are behind the wheel and I am truly selfless, gentle, loving, merciful, and gracious to others. Light shines forth, not originating in me, but reflecting through me. When this happens, sometimes others realize they have seen a good man.

They have. That good man is not me, but when I’m yielded, you will see Him in me. He’s a good man.

… not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
(Philippians 3:9)