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If you are visiting this site and are a patient that I recently cared for in the Emergency Department, this analogy will hopefully make a lot of sense. Even if you are not a recent patient referred to this site, imagine for a moment if you had to go to the emergency department; why would you go? You would go, because you were sick. Only when a person acknowledges that they are sick will they seek medical care.
Are You a Good Person?
In the same way, until you realize that you are spiritually "sick" (actually the Bible says we are all spiritually dead!) you will not understand your need of the good news, the gospel. In fact, most of us look pretty good on the outside. Most people are, for the most part, moral. The problem is God doesn't require us to just be moral; He requires us to be perfect! Often when we compare ourselves with others, we don't look so bad. The problem is that we are using the wrong standard. The standard of "goodness" is God Himself. Jesus said, "No one is good except God alone (Luke 18:19)." God's goodness is put on display in His law. Paul says, "So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." (Romans 7:12, NASB95) The standard God has set is very high. It is not enough to be "good", as compared with others. God's standard is perfection. That is spelled out in Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48, NASB95)
The Problem
The problem is none of us are perfect. You might say, "Surely God doesn't really mean that we have to be perfect." Yes, He does. Do you start to understand the bad news now?
Test Yourself
If you are in doubt as to whether or not you are really "sick", in the sense of being sinful, then try the test on the next page.
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