“Sabihin mo nga sa akin, masama ba akong tao?”

It depends on whom you’re asking but then again, any answer this side of heaven (or hell) is irrelevant. It is only God’s answer that matters and according to Him, “nagkasala ang lahat.” (Rom. 3:23a, The Pinoy Version),

Perhaps in man’s standards, we may be described as mabuti because of our good and charitable works, no matter how occasional they may be or it’s just for epal purposes. Even those who have killed, tortured, lied, and stolen, can also be considered to be good by sycophants and the people who benefit. Man’s standards are unreliable but God’s standards are fair, just, and never changes (Isa. 40:6-8). What was true back in the Garden of Eden is still true to this day, until the end of the age.

In the presence of God, it is not a question whether we are masama or mabuti. It’s how we meet His standard for holiness. He Himself is the standard which is why “walang nakaabot sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos” (Rom. 3:23b). No one, not even Mother Theresa, can claim to have met it.

So the question is not, “Masama ba akong tao?” but how do we measure up when compared to God’s holiness? “Hindi nagiging matuwid sa harap ng Diyos ang kahit sino.” (Rom. 3:20)

Instead of asking each other especially the sipsip, we ask God whose opinion is the only one that needs to be respected as it determines where we will spend eternity. He says only Jesus Christ has met His standards when He accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. And we can only be considered as holy when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior because His righteous blood covers our sins so when God looks at us, He sees Jesus’ blood, not our sins. Then, and only then, will we have the assurance of eternity in heaven with our Holy God.