I spoke with someone last night who told me she believed that all the "good people" go to heaven. This always sends my mind into a flurry of questions:
-What is "good"?
-How "good" is good enough?
-What is the tipping point; the point where you do ONE THING that tips you over into the "good" area (whew!), or the one thing that tips you over into the "not good" area (oh no!)?
-How could anyone ever live without anxiety wondering if they are one of the "good" or not? Or if they have now done something to cause their rank to change?
And after thinking a while on that point, my mind goes to Jesus' claims. He claimed that He alone was "the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:16) The Bible says that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Note, it doesn't say "that whoever is good will have eternal life."
There are many more examples in scripture where we are told to obey His commands, love others, love God -- but for eternal life the key is to believe in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Jesus warned us: "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matt 7:13-14) Perhaps one of the signs on the wide and easy road is "be a good person."
If you are a Christian, you simply can't cling to the belief that "good" people will go to heaven. In that, you are denying what Christ did for us-- the very thing you are clinging to for your own salvation! To say anything else is to preach another gospel-- one that doesn't have the power to save anyone from destruction. If you love God you are to love your neighbor. Giving them comfort by telling them their wide and easy way is fine is not loving them, but allowing them to continue on that road that leads to their eternal destruction! We need to shout it out to everyone who will hear:
"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT SAVES! Christ's work, not ours. His sacrifice and obedience, not our own. His goodness, not our sad attempts at staying within the edges of the shifting boundaries that we declare "good."
Spread the word, Christian, Jesus is the only way.
-How "good" is good enough?
-What is the tipping point; the point where you do ONE THING that tips you over into the "good" area (whew!), or the one thing that tips you over into the "not good" area (oh no!)?
-How could anyone ever live without anxiety wondering if they are one of the "good" or not? Or if they have now done something to cause their rank to change?
And after thinking a while on that point, my mind goes to Jesus' claims. He claimed that He alone was "the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:16) The Bible says that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Note, it doesn't say "that whoever is good will have eternal life."
There are many more examples in scripture where we are told to obey His commands, love others, love God -- but for eternal life the key is to believe in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Jesus warned us: "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matt 7:13-14) Perhaps one of the signs on the wide and easy road is "be a good person."
If you are a Christian, you simply can't cling to the belief that "good" people will go to heaven. In that, you are denying what Christ did for us-- the very thing you are clinging to for your own salvation! To say anything else is to preach another gospel-- one that doesn't have the power to save anyone from destruction. If you love God you are to love your neighbor. Giving them comfort by telling them their wide and easy way is fine is not loving them, but allowing them to continue on that road that leads to their eternal destruction! We need to shout it out to everyone who will hear:
"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT SAVES! Christ's work, not ours. His sacrifice and obedience, not our own. His goodness, not our sad attempts at staying within the edges of the shifting boundaries that we declare "good."
Spread the word, Christian, Jesus is the only way.
