1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

A Buddhist friend of mine told me that the object of her religion was to be as good a person as she could be. My response to her was, “You don’t have to believe in any form of god to do that.” Then I asked her why she was a Buddhist. She shrugged her shoulders and said, “I don’t know.”

There are people in the world that are good people. Paul alluded to that with the statement in Romans 2:14 whereas they make laws unto themselves. That’s is fine, well, and good, if this life is all there is to living. Self-imposed goodness is a standard unto itself and if when you die there is nothing else, what does it matter what the standard is for life.

The problem with goodness only exists if you believe in life after death. Does everyone get to share in eternity? If so, why have any standard of goodness at all? If you believe that, live fast, live hard, do what you want and get to eternity while you still have a good looking corpse. Look around you and tell me you want to spend eternity with the worst of the worst murderers and despots.

Eternal life has to have a fair judge. Justice must be based on a standard which is fair to all, regardless of the offense. If all you are guilty of is pride of life, then that standard has to apply to you as well as a murderer. Why? Because the reward is the same, eternal life. You don’t get two eternal lives for being a good person.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

One standard no matter what the offense. Equality in mercy.

Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

When growing up I was made to play outside, often alone. When I would come into the house for a drink of water, or to use the bathroom, the television was on soaps. I never gave it much thought at the time, but perhaps my mother was enforcing Proverbs 20:19 in my life.

I got glimpses of soap opera life and I did not get a right understanding of what they were all about. Were those soap operas a true reflection of life in America? For all I know, which was little, they were my mother’s daily fix of gossip.

Today we have “reality TV” which I do not watch. I see commercials for them and for the most part I do not think they are about gossip. I think they are about feeling good about ourselves. “At least I am not like that.” Oops, the Pharisee said that of sinners and was not justified before God. So what is it about this voyeuristic lifestyle that is so popular?

Perhaps it is because I don’t want to do a self-examination of my own short comings. Perhaps I don’t want to read my bible because I don’t want to see myself in those pages. The Word is good for correction, 2 Timothy 3:16. If you avoid reading your bible for this reason, guess what, you already know your shortcoming.

Matthew 9:12b They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Take you medicine.