How Good Are You?

In the Bible, young David’s foe, Goliath, was a giant of a warrior.  It is recorded he was “six cubits and a span” tall. One immediately wonders, “How big is a cubit and a span?” 

A cubit is from the tip of one’s middle finger to the tip of the elbow.  Most assume it to be 18 inches.

Others say that it may have been measured by the cubit of the king at the time.  King Saul was a large man so his cubit could have been 20 inches long.

To make it more confusing, there are other lengths attributed to this measurement. The Babylonian cubit is known to be 20.65 to 21.26 inches long. The long Hebrew cubit was 18.36 to18.9 inches.

The exact size of a span is also questionable.  Its length is derived from the distance from an extended hand’s tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger.  Most assume it is nine inches.  One can easily see that this is also an unreliable measurement because it depends on whose hand is measured.

Depending on what standard was used, the giant Goliath may have been 9.75 to 11.5 feet tall. One can easily see that a subjective, comparative measurement is not accurate.  

Similar measuring is used when one compares one’s “goodness” with that of another.  “I am not as bad as that adulterer” or “I’m not as bad as that liar and murderer.” Who made you the standard for measuring who is naughty or nice?

Ultimately it is not man’s standards that are accurate or count.  What one may think is good behavior, another may view as poor. Standards on measuring good conduct can change from one person to another, and even change several times a day.   What is acceptable in one country may be abhorrent in another. Some behavior accepted today was frowned upon in previous generations.
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” II Cor. 10:12

Ignored by most, the origin of what defines righteousness and evil is God’s Word, the Bible.  Within its preserved pages, man can read what God says is right and wrong. His opinion never changes and is the only one that ultimately matters. His measurements of behavior have been steadfast through most of human history.

God cuts quickly to the chase.  He makes it quite clear, by His gauge, none are “good.”  As hard as man may try, he is still a sinner, and his efforts in controlling his conduct are only external, temporary, and fall short of what God deems good. 
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Rom. 3:23
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10  Also: Rom. 3:9, Gal. 3:22.

God’s honest judgment of us certainly should change our judging of others.  We are all sinners!

Except for God’s mercy and giving us a way to have our sins forgiven and forgotten there would be no hope for any of us to miss Hell.  Forget your opinionated judgments of others and see yourself as God sees you —  a sinner, and not “good”.  Your measuring tool of goodness means little

However, we can be forgiven for our iniquities.  The only way is by trusting that Jesus’ death on the cross is payment for our wickedness.  Then, once cleared of our sins, we can follow God scriptural commandments and please our heavenly Father.  Our obedience and deeds are then “good” in His eyes.

“Don’t judge a man because he sins differently than you.  Some may be forgiven of the iniquities, but we are all sinners.”