Close Enough for Government Work

That’s a phrase I often heard (and used) when I was in the Navy; usually at the conclusion of a task deemed sufficient, with no interest in making any additional improvement.

Somewhere in the “not-yet-transformed” region of my brain is a long held notion that, although lying dormant, there has always been a very good person waiting to be “released.” Until then, the best I could do was “close enough.”

The deeper I sink into the conviction that the only righteousness (very goodness) I will ever possess is the absolute righteousness of Jesus Christ, the more I understand that “very good person” never existed. Even when/if I came across as likable, entertaining or merely not the worst person you could run into, the darkness of my inherent, inherited nature has always been opposed to the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The good news is that working side by side with Jesus, taking on his yoke - is absolutely “close enough for government work!”

. . . and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, MightyGod, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end . . . (Isaiah 9:6-7)