If you are one of those people who think you are good enough to go to heaven, here are a few things to consider:
(1) If heaven is a place of perfection how can anyone be sure they are good enough? Most of us have regrets, mistakes we have made in our past. Nobody’s perfect. God is. Even people we would call good are basically selfish and very imperfect. Everything we do is seen by God. He is aware of not only all of our actions but also our thoughts and motives.
(2) Is it possible to be a good person and still reject God? Think about it. If we show little or no interest in God in this life, what will change at death? Would you let someone into your home on a permanent basis, if you knew they wanted nothing to do with you? Wouldn’t you both be miserable?
This person is basically lying to themselves. The person without God is not good. This lie takes several forms. “I am a good person.” “I am no worse than the next guy.” “God knows I try my best.” Most people in prison argue that they aren’t so bad, they know someone worse. The question is, good compared to who?
(3) Jesus said that no one is good but God alone. Read this in the Gospel of Mark 10:17-31 Jesus meets a man who calls Him, “good teacher” and asks how he could enter heaven. First Jesus asks, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.” In other words, do you realize what you are saying about me? Then Jesus points out what it would cost to join God’s side and the man left discouraged.
Jesus explained that His presence in the world was a light and a test. “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20 )What do you do with Jesus? Do you draw toward Him or keep your distance? Are you fascinated with Him?
There is a God who created our world and is distinct from it. He does care about you and proved this. In that conversation Jesus made it clear that people would not believe in Him because they have something to hide. This may not even be at a conscious level. Cockroaches naturally run from the light. They don’t even stop to think about it. Which way are you running?
The apostle James writes, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God… Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:4-8) Before you explore further be warned, you will need to choose sides. Whose side are you on?
When the apostle Paul spoke in Athens he made it clear that there is a fixed future day of judgement. “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31
Today that judgement day is much, much closer. Are you ready for it? Would you like to talk about it?
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