Good People

by Joey Davis

An elderly man looks intently into the eyes of his lifelong companion and says, "tell me I'm a good man!" "What?" she replies. "Tell me I'm a good man."

In the movie "Saving Private Ryan," the elderly Ryan thinks back on the Young Lieutenant who led an expedition to save his life during World War II. This young Lieutenant had led a mall company of men on a mission in the European 'heart to find Private Ryan and keep him from harm.

As Ryan remembers this Lieutenant, one phrase continues to haunt him. . . "earn it!" Lieutenant Miller and his men had witnessed gruesome events and had endured great personal suffering in order to save Ryan. As the story drew to a dose, Miller tells Ryan to "earn it," meaning to live his life in such a way that the lives lost on his behalf should be worth the sacrifice.

As the elderly Ryan stood at the Lieutenant's graveside and thought back on these words, he fervently begged his wife to tell him that he was a "good man." And even though his wife consoled him by assuring him that he was indeed "good," I was left with the feeling that in this elderly civilian's heart of hearts, living a good life and being a "good man" didn't quite seem enough.

When I put myself in Ryan's shoes, I begin to realize how utterly feudal it would be to attempt to become worthy of the sacrifice of another's life. After all, what could I possibly do to "earn" such a thing? If your son were called on to die so that I could be spared for my parents to enjoy, could I ever live a life "good enough" to make you feel that the sacrifice of your son was a good idea? I doubt it!

The Father in heaven allowed His Son to endure personal hardship and bear the gruesome torture of the cross so that we could be spared. However, the Father was far too wise to ask us to "earn it." He knows that there is nothing we can do to earn such a gift.

Don't we owe Him the respect of being "Good people?" Absolutely! Shouldn't we be obedient and faithful? You better believe it! . . . but all of our good works wouldn't make a down payment on the life of the Savior. After all, isn't that the beauty of God's free gift and the essence of what makes grace so amazing?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. "

Ephesians 2:8-9

Don't serve God to earn His gift. . . serve Him because the Gift was free!