Can we ever be good enough for God?

“Then all the people answered together and said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do.’”

Exodus 19:8 (NKJV)

At Mount Sinai, God entered into a covenant with Israel. If they would obey His voice and keep His covenant, then they would be a special treasure to Him above all nations. They would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

If you stop and think about it, God offered them an amazing privilege. Out of all nations, God selected the children of Israel as His own. As He had carried them out of Egypt on eagle’s wings, so He would be with them always to protect and provide for them. He would bring them into the land of Canaan and give it to them as their everlasting possession. How could it get any better than this?

But sadly, they did not keep their part of the agreement. Their promise to do everything the LORD had spoken was easier said than done. Even before Moses returned from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, they turned away from the LORD and worshiped a golden calf! God’s covenant with Israel was good, but it was weakened by the failures of the people.

Nevertheless, God never gave up on the idea of consecrating a people to Himself. He did, however, change the terms. The New Covenant would not be based upon man’s performance but on the obedience of God’s Son. Our part is to believe in the One whom God has sent (John 6:29). If we do this, then God credits to us the righteousness of Christ, and we become His special people.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NKJV)

God has called us out of the darkness of sin and unbelief. He has brought us into the marvelous light of faith, truth, and righteousness. Although we were once strangers and outside the covenant privileges of Israel, now we have been brought near and accepted in the Beloved Son Jesus Christ. We are His ambassadors, sent into the world to proclaim the praises of our glorious King and Savior. At times we feel like we are missing the mark, but if we humble ourselves, He gives us more grace.

Photo by Davide Colonna on Unsplash