2:9 – After Many Edits, Still Not Good Enough

#faithbites #faithjourney #RoadtoEdD Edits

Tonight I was incorporating peer feedback into my dissertation draft. As I was doing that, I noticed “older” parts of the paper that I didn’t like. I revised it, performed more edits, and I still didn’t like it.

I’d like to say this is a labor of love but at this point, I just want to be done. The old saying is the only good dissertation is a done dissertation. Admitting this is hard because I want it to be perfect. My words are my thoughts, so getting them down just right is what I aim for. But no matter how many edits I go through, I don’t think perfect is going to happen. Good enough will have to do.

What I love most about my faith, is that Jesus knows I can’t be perfect. He knows that no matter the works I do, it won’t be good enough. For the only way to the Father is through the son. It is one time in our lives when we don’t have to do something other than believe to be saved.

Scripture

• For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9
• We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. – Isaiah 64:6
• Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. – Galatians 2:16

Reflection

Isn’t liberating to know that our deeds and works don’t have to be perfect? I love to serve and help people, but knowing that God doesn’t judge that does help. Our works are like a leaf that will fade and blow away. When I was younger, heck even know, I wonder what of my works will remain after I die. It doesn’t matter if I make a song or art or a paper. It matters how I treat my friends and family.

I always question if I’m doing enough, helping enough, being whatever enough. Knowing that my admittance to heaven isn’t judged by my works. It is judged by my belief in Christ and through his forgiveness of my many sins.

While this doesn’t help me write my dissertation, it does help put things in perspective. My dissertation won’t be perfect, but it will be good and well thought out earning me my doctorate. Likewise, my life won’t be perfect but through Christ’s forgiveness, it will be good and well thought out and my faith will earn me eternal salvation.

Charge

Are you trying to stack up perfect works to get into heaven? Do you think you aren’t doing enough to get there? Take a minute to pray to Jesus. Thank him for his gift of forgiveness and for bridging the divide between you and God. Our works don’t lead to salvation but our faith can help us live a good life and that faith in Christ will lead to salvation.

Prayer

Lord Almighty, help us to remember what your son told us about works. That is it not in our power to do things to be reunited with you. That our works will fade and disappear. Give us the reminder that our faith in Jesus is what brings us to you. While we want to live like Christ and be good to others, that isn’t what gives eternal salvation. You are a God of your Word and through our belief, we will be with you until the end of days. Amen