There is a Way Out

May 2, 2025

Some people are arrogant. Some are meek. Some people are presumptuous. Some are unassuming. Some people are generous. Some are stingy.

Although contradictory, these traits are all part of our Human Nature, and on different days, we demonstrate a different mix. — depending on how we feel at the moment…

I know we demonstrate many other traits, but am I correctly stating the obvious so far? (Readers can always correct me in their responses, since I’m pretty sure that I don’t know everything…)

Not being an expert in the intellectual field of Psychology, I’m going to stop this part of my essay so as not to show my expansive fields of ignorance.

Suffice it to say that everybody has their good points and everybody has their faults. Those faults can be minor, but many can be grievous, hurtful, and harmful — not just to others but also to ourselves. They cannot be undone nor covered over. The damage has been done — whether a small ding in our car’s fender or a major crash which totals our vehicle.

I like how the New Living Bible Translation expresses this dynamic:

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. — Romans 3:23, NLT.

Many eyes will roll back at this Bible verse, but they do so, because this verse is neither fully understood and is far too often seen as both trite and shallow…

The problem lies in the fact that we don’t know what God’s standards are, nor do we understand His underlying motivations. As Jesus taught, those standards far exceed the Ten Commandments. In this verse Jesus declares, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven,” and then He proceeds to give illustrations of exactly what He meant (Matthew 5:17–47).

Then, what are those underlying motivations I referred to?

Understanding that, in God’s view, sinning is doing what is hurtful, and harmful — not just to others but also to oneself. So, His primary motivation is to stop our human nature’s tendency of hurting and harming.

Of course, I know the standard phrase for sinning is disobedience to God’s expressed Laws. However, the phrase is trite and does not express the underlying currents of God’s view: God wants the relationship between Himself and Humanity to be one of family. And for that kind of relationship to work we need a righteousness that excels as discussed above in Matthew 5.

His laws emanate from that core of love… parental love.

Perhaps the phrase, “God is love” has been overused and has become trite and easily ignored. Still, it is so necessary for us to comprehend it in its full significance. We all very much need to swim in the underlying currents of God’s perspective and purposes.

Yes. Sometimes His laws seem dictatorial, sometimes too strict, sometimes arbitrary. Maybe it is received in an overtly emotional way that unnerves some people. Yet, God’s familial love is marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias — as I found how the Greeks define “storge.” (MerriamWebster.com)

In addition as https://biblehub.com/greek/5387.htm defines His love: Devoted, loving dearly, tenderly affectionate. Further, this site explains, In the context of the New Testament, it is used to encourage believers to exhibit this kind of love towards one another within the body of Christ, reflecting the close-knit, supportive relationships that should exist among Christians.

Also, let me add that as members of God’s family, we are supposed to be offering this, may I say, Biblical hospitality to non-believers, as well — maintaining this open invitation from Jesus…

Isn’t this similar to the universal ideal for Human relationships? Generosity. Hospitality. Openness. Friendliness.

Still and all, these are not universally practiced, are they?

No, of course not. …we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Is one cause our natural instincts of self preservation?

Maybe. But that’s a question for a different essay.

Let me repeat, as in the trauma caused by not living up to those ideals: don’t folks comment, “Isn’t it a sin?” Some shake their heads in solidarity, observing, “That’s so sad…” or “That’s such a shame…”

Yes. It is a shame.

Now then, we can spend a whole lot of money trying to heal the wounds, can’t we? Otherwise, we can simply hunker down and hope the disturbing, distressing, and depressing thoughts will just go away.

Some, like I had been, may not know how to escape or even that there actually is a way to escape…

A long time ago, in High School, I had become so hopelessly depressed that I attempted suicide.

So, I have never been above the fray.

We can be blindly stumbling through our lives, doing the best we can, trying to ignore such problems, or we may try to find ways to distract ourselves or to experiment with whatever solutions we might stumble across…

It’s such an awful place to be. It’s such a dry and barren existence… a subconscious precursor to the idea of hell, perhaps?

I suggest that, because haven’t we all heard at one time or another, “My life has been a living hell lately!”

For many like myself, we limp through life with a kind of mental handicap, blocking our way to any access to happiness, stunting our growth for any kind of healthy relationships, and forcing us to politely “put on a brave face” to hide the turmoil raging inside us.

Eventually, we can become numb.

Want to know the solution I found?

Many are hardened against this, I know, but it is, in oversimplified terminology, the solution I have found. It is this: turning to God, turning away from all our attempted solutions or the stagnation which comes from giving up, then turning to Jesus, accepting the fact that our lives have come up short of God’s glorious standard.

It is our sinfulness that has done us in.

That is the way. I am telling you the Truth. There is a Light to show you out of the darkness which most everyone are in…

As I have struggled to find the right words to explain, maybe in the words of Jesus in this Bible excerpt, His own words will be more effective: Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. — John 10:6–10, NLT.

In my way of thinking and in my real life experiences, turning to Jesus has a lot of advantages were struggling on your own falls short:

• this path is free to choose;
• it is “a rich and satisfying life;”
• Jesus is steady and a dependable pillar of support;
• He will slow down when you can’t keep up;

• God’s ways are eternal and ongoing solution (not temporary crutches);
• Walking with Jesus is always of your choosing;
• His way works in everyday livin
• He sticks with you as you learn;
• when you stumble, Jesus helps you get back up;
• your path ahead is always well lit (so no need to keep peering nervously over your shoulder);
• and so much more

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” — Matthew 11:28–30, NLT.