As Christmas approaches, we immerse ourselves in the joy and warmth of the season, celebrating with family and friends, and embracing the spirit of gratitude, kindness, and love. But beneath all the warmth, glitter and glow of festive lights lies a profound story, one that unknowingly challenges our self-perceptions of goodness which highlights our very need for a Savior. Jesus’ birth reminds us that He came not because of our inherent goodness, but due to our lack thereof.

Understanding Goodness

Shannen Doherty, recognized for her roles in Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, courageously opened up about her battle with stage four cancer. Speaking with People magazine, Doherty expressed her lack of fear about death, attributing it to what appears to be her self-perceived goodness:

“I’m not afraid of death, I know where I’m going. I think I would be afraid of death if I wasn’t a good person. But I am.”

This notion, equating personal goodness with a secured place in Heaven or the afterlife, is quite common. A survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Behold Retreats revealed that 81 percent of Americans believe in humanity’s inherent goodness, with 75 percent considering themselves fundamentally good. Forty-six percent even consider themselves “better” than their peers.

These beliefs raise critical questions:

• Are we inherently good?
• Can our deeds earn a place in Heaven?
• If we were truly good, would Jesus’ birth have been necessary?

The Reality of Human Nature

Our daily lives often display a striking contradiction to this perceived inherent goodness:

• “Why, at the age of four, did I falsely accuse someone else of throwing a dog bone against the wall, when it was, in fact, I who had done it and left a mark?”

• “Why, at the age of five, did I lie about taking my multivitamins, only to spit them out and dissolve them in the bathroom sink because I detested them?”

These childhood examples reflect a broader truth about our world. We live in a fallen world where both the wealthy and poor are capable of having hearts full of greed. We live in a world where we lock our doors, create passwords for our computers and phones, and we have to show our ticket stubs and have our bags checked for concerts and train stations. But why? Even our governments are structured on a system of checks and balances, acknowledging our natural bent towards sin.

Even when we don’t commit overt wrongs, our fallen nature means we’re not as good as we might believe. Consider my role of assisting a group of teenagers volunteering at an addiction crisis center. While some teens exhibited genuine enthusiasm for the crisis center’s initiatives, a number of the teens volunteered not out of a sincere desire to volunteer and aid those in need, but primarily to bolster their resumes for college applications. Indeed, they were helpful, but their motives weren’t entirely selfless. This is not unique to them; we all struggle with self-interest, focusing on what we can extract and use from the experience rather than what we can contribute.

The Reason for Christmas

The Bible clearly states, “No one is good — except God alone” (Mark 10:18). Scriptures like Psalm 14:3 reinforce that we’ve all sinned and fall short of God’s glory. This is the essence of Christmas: Jesus came to save us from our flawed and fallen nature.

The common misconception and belief that we are good, as shared by Doherty and many others, that our personal goodness can determine our afterlife, is fundamentally flawed.

The true essence of Christmas Day, marked by Jesus’ humble arrival, is the greatest critical rescue operation by our Heavenly Father. It’s a blessed recovery and restoration of His flawed and broken followers. If there’s anything that should make us reflect on our journey towards Heaven, it’s the belief that our own goodness is adequate for entry, or that we have enough inherent virtue to reach the other side. Should this be our belief, it diminishes the need for Jesus to step into troubled waters to save us; for there becomes no need to take the thorn out of a perfectly good rose. There’s simply no need for a rescue.

Praise our God of mercy for sending his son Jesus, for his dramatic rescue of our drowning hearts and becoming the perfect and good sacrifice for our souls. This realization should fill our hearts with hope and gratitude, making this a truly Merry Christmas.

Devin Almonte, a respected wellness lifestyle expert, TV and radio host, writer, and blogger, is known for her genuine relatability and uplifting faith-based content. Devin is currently an active member of the 2023-24 Colson Fellows Program. In her endeavors as a writer focused on spiritual matters and as the host of her nightly radio show “Encouraging Star Stories,” Devin continues to inspire and uplift her audience.