"I Have No Good"

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”  (Psalm 16 vv 1-2 ESV)

A Mitkam of David reveals how David saw God as the secret to a happy and blessed life. David had many trials and tribulations in his life, but he always took refuge in God.  Whether it was resting in a cave while being pursued by Saul (1 Samuel 24) or on his knees after Nathan told him, “You are that man” (2 Samuel 12:7), David placed his trust in God.

One name for God is “the Preserver of men.”

Spurgeon noted that “it had been promised to the Lord Jesus that He should be preserved.”[1] Spurgeon pointed to Isaiah 49:7-8 as a reference text for this comment: "Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people."(KJV). David saw God as his preserver as well.

In verse two, David speaks the truth for himself but for all of humanity. Apart from God, we have no good. Our hearts are inherently wicked. Our thoughts constantly stray from God. Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (17:9) While Jeremiah was speaking of Judah and the Israelites, his words hold true today. Paul reminded us of the very same thing in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

We are wicked, and we are evil, but we can be restored in Jesus Christ. When Jesus died, he received the full wrath of God for our transgressions. His atonement was propitious; it satisfied God’s wrath against our sin. We know it pleased the Father because He raised Christ from the dead. (Acts 2:24, Acts 3:15) So, while we have no goodness apart from God, we are justified, saved by God, from God, for God.

It is a lifetime commitment to God that we make when we accept Christ as our Savior. Despite our inherent sinfulness, we cannot lose our salvation. We have an intercessor, a mediator in Christ Jesus, and in our sin and repentance, Christ serves as a reminder that He paid for our sins through His finished work on the cross. He speaks to the Father on our behalf. Satan may try to take our salvation. He accuses us before God, but as with Peter and Job, God will not forsake us.

You may ask what about those who profess faith but turn from God, live sinful lives, and abandon the church. I think 1 John 2:19 addresses this type of behavior, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” They are tares among the wheat. Jesus illustrated them as the “rocky soil” (Matthew 13:20) and the “weeds that choke out the growing seeds” (Matthew 13:7). John also followed verse 19 with this explanation, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” They did not know Christ.

Salvation is for the elect. This is made clear by scripture; Jesus Himself made it clear to His disciples that only those the Father draws will come to Christ. (John 6:44) Revelation tells us of the Book of Life of the Lamb and the elect: “and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear” When one finds salvation in Christ, there is an irrevocable change of the heart. This is not a temporary state, but a permanent one. It is a supernatural change that fills one with the Holy Spirit. Christ lives in you. You are His saint and will be forevermore.

So, we cling to God, in our repentance, and in the wholeness of our lives. Without God, there is no good in us. Many will follow Christ without ever experiencing salvation. They come to worship every Sunday to check a box. They have a Bible which remains unopened. They prayed a prayer that they believed saved them, not knowing that giving one's life to Christ is much more than that. On the day they stand before the White Throne of Judgement, it will not be a welcome that greets them.

Is this you? You prayed a prayer once? Seek the living God. Asking Jesus Christ to save you, devoting your life, and repenting of your sins is a life-changing experience. It is not just about going through the motions, but about building a genuine relationship with God. Experience the life-changing power of the Son of God. Looking for answers? Here at In Messiah, we can guide you through the scriptures to show you the path that leads to Christ.

Grace and Peace.

[1] Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Periodical, 1869.