None are Righteous

Scripture:
How then can man be in the right before God?
    How can he who is born of woman be pure?
Job 25:4

Observation: This is THE question. Despite the Law and any attempt to comply with it, man cannot actually meet God's standard of holy and pure. We all sin.

As Job debates with his friends about whether or not he is at fault and thus under God's curse, this question makes the entire conversation moot. Job cannot be righteous before God. Therefore, he deserves to be under God's judgment. The fact he may be MORE righteous than others who are not experiencing trouble is pointless, because this isn't a discussion about degrees. Job is a sinner, and he cannot stand before God as a righteous man no matter how good he is, or how well he observes the Law, or how much he sacrifices to God, or how much he gives to God, or how often he worships God.

The Law, our compliance with the Law, and any other good deed we perform, cannot make any man righteous without grace and forgiveness for our inevitable transgressions.

Application: Without getting into the obvious "this is where Jesus comes in" thought - which I already know and accept - instead I am considering the mind of those who believe they CAN somehow be "good enough" to get into heaven. What would "good enough" have to look like?

It would HAVE to start with this concept: You would love EVERYONE. Every single person you met, you would have to love them. Sometimes that might lead you to speak truth to them and correct them, but it would usually mean helping them. It would mean never looking down on them, growing tired of them, thinking poorly of them, getting angry with them, or ever having any negative thought toward anyone. Ever.

And there you have it ... it can't be done. Forget actions, no person can even put themselves into the mindset to be righteous before God.

It makes me wonder about those people who believe this is possible. It must be because they don't know what "good" even means. They think it means giving away money now and then. I can't even imagine what they are thinking. And that's probably where I need to begin.  For those who accept there is "a god" but reject Jesus, what is their plan for eternal life? And why do they believe that will work? These may be good questions to start conversations.

Prayer: Lord, I am thinking out loud today. I guess I am actually allowing your word to prepare me for some kind of future conversation. May your word do that to me every day ... guide and instruct and prepare me for future work and conversations in service to you. Amen.