I'm Good Enough

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit”  Titus 3:5

“But I’m a good person, and have always helped other people.  Surely, if there is a heaven, God will let me in.”  I have heard this or some derivative of this numerous times throughout my life.  Many people believe that if they are good enough, God will be impressed by their work and open the gates to heaven.  There is this belief that we can make it to heaven on our own goodness, truthfulness and righteousness.  Nothing could be farther from the truth based on the Word of God.

I don’t care who you are; Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, the Dali Lama, Bill Gates, the Pope, the President, Prince William or Princess Kate; you are not worthy of heaven.  You’re not.  God demands perfection for entry into heaven, and not one of us is perfect in every way.  Our thoughts, our actions, our attitude, our charity, our service, our health, our worldly beliefs, our lusts, our addictions are all areas where we fall short of perfection in one way or another.  Your best 15 seconds, where you are your most holy and righteous in actions and prayer, are still filthy rags in the eyes of the Lord.  Only one has lived the perfect life, and that is Jesus Christ (God Incarnate).  From the moment of His conception, by the Holy Spirit within the womb of a virgin, through His life of love, mercy and miracles; to His death on the cross, burial and His resurrection; Jesus Christ lived within the perfection of God the Father’s design.

Therefore, He alone has created a bridge between our sinful existence and God’s required perfection.  Your life can be filled with philanthropic and missionary work for the homeless, the hurting and the hungry, and you will have done amazing things for other people.  Yet still, without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, you will not enjoy the splendors of God’s eternity.  All of the greatest karma, incantations and well doing will only make you happy in this life, but leave you completely empty for eternity.  In God’s Holy Word we read;

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”  Matthew 7:21-23

In Matthew 19:16-25 we find a rich young man asking Jesus, “What must I do to get eternal life?”  Jesus replied with, “..there is only One who is good.  Follow the 10 commandments… then sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me.”  We cannot do enough good works to get to heaven, we must decide to follow Jesus Christ and rely solely on His righteousness and the grace of God the Father to enter into His Kingdom.  One day you will stand in judgment before the Father in heaven.  With Jesus by your side, He will testify of your acceptance and belief in His sacrifice, and because of this, usher you into eternity with God the Father.  I fear for those who stand before the Lord alone, without accepting Jesus Christ.  For despite their goodness, kindness, and righteous efforts, their fate will be eternity in the pit of fire.

Prayer:
Lord of All Creation,
You have made it clear in Your Holy Word, that only those who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved.  Our righteousness, goodness and loving acts are insufficient for entry into Your perfect heaven.  I ask for Your mercy and grace to flow through me that others might come into Your glory and accept Your Son as their Savior and Lord.  In Your name we pray – Amen
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