There is in all persons a certain knowledge of good and evil: But we are apt to fix a standard that we think we can meet.
For instance, the drunkard thinks there is no great harm in drinking, but would consider it a great sin to steal. The covetous man, who may be daily practicing some deception “in the way of trade,” satisfies himself by thinking “it is necessary and customary to do so in business, but I do not get drunk as some do.” The upright moral man satisfies himself with doing what he calls his duty, and looks around and pities the open sinners. However, he never considers how many evil thoughts or sinful desires he has cherished, unknown to others. Thus each congratulates himself by comparing himself with someone else who may have done worse.
But there is a true standard of righteousness; and that is the righteousness of God.
God judges the heart, though man looks only at the outward conduct.
When a person’s conscience begins to be awakened to think of sin as God sees it, then he finds himself guilty and ruined; he does not attempt to justify himself by trying to find out some one worse than himself, but frankly owns his guilt, condemns himself, and is anxious to know if God can forgive him.
Yes, it comforts and quiets the depraved heart of man, to find a person worse than himself! He thinks the greater sin of another excuses himself. And, this is not all; for he cannot bear to see God exhibiting grace. Grace — which means the unmerited forgiveness of every sin, without God requiring anything from the one so forgiven — is a principle so opposed to all man’s thoughts, so far above man, that he dislikes it; his own heart often secretly calls it injustice. It is very humbling to be obliged to own that we are dependent upon grace entirely and that nothing we have done, or can do, will make us fit for God; but that our misery, sin and ruin are all we have to commend us to God’s grace.
Adam in the Garden of Eden hid himself from God when he knew that he was guilty. He turned away from his only Friend just when he most needed Him. So it is still. Man is afraid of the only One who “will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:77Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)).
If you, dear reader, desire to have God’s full and free pardon, you must first as a guilty sinner be alone with Jesus, consciously self-condemned, not making resolutions or trying to get better first. You are brought by your very sins to stand before the Person who “died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)).