“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)
On his own, man is not built for adversity. If all is going good for him he can be pleasant enough, but let a little heat come his way, and his “goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.” (Hosea 6:4)
Despite their inherent weakness, most people believe they are basically good. “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness …” (Prov. 20:6) But life has a way of cutting us down to size. Eventually, each of us meets our match. There is that one vexing situation that we can’t overcome. We try to cope, but we are driven to madness or drink. We rage inside and respond horribly. Suddenly, we look in the mirror and realize we’re not as good as we thought we were.
The only hope of mankind is Jesus Christ living and ruling inside of us. He is the only one who remained good in the face of all life’s ills and adversities. He doesn’t call us to look to our own inner resources of strength and goodness; He points us to Himself. “… In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Until a man is in Christ he has no potential to do right or be good. He will inevitably take a wrong turn when faced with evil in this world. His goodness requires that others are good to him. His love requires that others love him. His patience requires that things go his way. Alas, all these things don’t happen in the real world. To overcome in a world of tribulation we need the Overcomer living His life through us.
God loves us. He loves us so much that He was willing to send His Son into the world, not only to show us how to live, but to live in us. He doesn’t condemn us for our sin and weakness which He sees better than we do. The only condemnation is that the Light has come and we still insist on walking in our own darkness.
Jesus Christ is every man’s hope of goodness and glory. Apart from Him we can do nothing, but fail in the tests of our life. Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Abide in Him. Leave the ranks of the overcome; join the ranks of the Overcomer.