Sin Does Not Make Things Better
One of the great lies that sin tells us is that somehow, we will be better. The lie may concern different objects but usually takes the form of a comparative: “I will be richer.” “I will be healthier.” “I will have a better relationship.” “I will be happier.” The lie is that these things make us better. The word “better” is the comparative of the word “good.” What makes us good?
Traditionally, the word “good” referred to moral excellence, and the word “well” referred to quantitative progress. Our culture, however, is in the process of stripping morality out of the word “good” and using it to describe things that the word “well” should be used for. So, we say, “I am doing good” instead of “I am doing well.” This change in word usages shows that our culture wants morality to be pragmatic, not essential.
Jesus once said, “No one is good but One, that is, God” (Luke 18:19). Only God can make us better because only God is good. All efforts to make things better by practicing sin do not make one morally better. Sin may increase one’s bank account or create a situation where one is “happy” (for a season). Sin may result in some comparatively pragmatic changes but committing sin does not make things better morally.
Let’s put it another way. Having more money in the bank, or a greater education, or being better looking, or possessing a superlative of any quantitative measure, does not improve one’s moral status. One may have all these and still be a horrible person! On the other hand, one may be poor, ugly, and uneducated yet be a very good person. Pragmatism does not make one morally superior! Only God does that through His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24-25).
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley