Am I a good person?

The answer is no.

Last weekend I was at a scrapbook retreat with my Mom and sister in law, and while we were there, a friend and fellow scrapper asked if she could talk to me about God and my faith. Wow! What a gift! What an opportunity! We had a great conversation and I felt honored and humbled to have been chosen for such a privilege.

This conversation reminded me of so many others I have had with people. Can you get to Heaven by being a good person? Surely a God that loves his children would not turn someone away if they are a good person. Right?

Am I good person? I am sure my friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors would say that I am. But in truth, I am not. God would not see me as a “good person”

The Bible provides us with 10 commandments. Laws of God. These are things that matter to God. The first four are regarding ourselves and God, the other six refer to mankind and society. Just last week, I broke at least six of them.

What sins did I commit?

Last week the phone rang and the caller asked for one of my associates. He did not want to take the call and I told the caller he was not available. A lie. Commandment 9 broken.

A customer came in and asked us to inspect his extinguisher. The cost of this service is $5 and the customer handed me a five dollar bill. I put it in petty cash without entering it as income, failing to report it to the IRS. Theft. Commandment number 8 broken.

I was away for the weekend, including Sunday. I scrapped, got breakfast, packed up the car, and never once prayed or worshiped God. Commandment number 4 broken.

I went into work early each day to carpool with my husband, skipping my time with my Bible. By doing this I put false idols before God. I chose work, AKA money, before God. An idol does not only mean a statue or figure. An idol is anything that takes my time and attention from the Lord. Commandment number 2 broken.

One night I pulled into the driveway and saw my father in law outside. Our conversation led me to believe a visit to my mother in law would be needed and appreciated. I chose to go home instead. Commandment number 5 broken.

At least once I hung up the phone at work and said, “I can’t stand people”. I would get aggravated with a person. Commandment number 6 broken. That’s right, murder. Murder is defined differently in the Bible. Matthew 5: 21-22 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘you shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment’. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement”.

Though I may be seen as “a good person” by earthly standards, God would see me as a sinner. I can confidently confess these sins, knowing I am not alone in being a sinner. WE ARE ALL SINNERS.

Romans 3:23

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

God does not rank sins, nor does he distinguish between deed, word or thought. That means the commandments are broken even with something you say or think. Adultery? Just look at someone with lust and you have committed adultery. It is a sin every time you say, “Oh my God,” or “Jesus Christ” when you are exclaiming with expression. That is using the Lord’s name in vain, and people throw those phrases around like confetti. That is breaking commandment number 3.

Why do I tell you this?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I would not be a good friend if I didn’t tell you. If you are a sinner, you can not go to Heaven. I know it seems so harsh, but it is truth. Let’s look at it in earthly examples. That is what Ray Comfort does in his book.

Let’s imagine you have broken the law. You ran a stop light, causing an accident, and you have to report to court. Would a judge let you go, just because you say you are a good person? Of course not. That would not be justice. He would give you a fine, or worse.

So am I going to Hell?

If I am not going to Heaven, does that mean I am going to Hell? The answer is yes. As a sinner, we are destined to an eternity in Hell when we die.

But God loves us, so how can that be? God does love us. He gave us free will because he loves us, and he knows we are not perfect and are sinful by nature. That is why He sent us a savior.

Let’s go back to the court scene. The Judge says you have a $50,000 fine or five months in prison. Yikes! But the law is the law. Not able to pay the hefty fine, you are looking at a five month sentence behind bars. All of a sudden, a total stranger stands up and approaches the Judge. This stranger says he would like to pay your fine, and hands over the cash. The judge asks why, and the stranger replies, saying he loves you. You are set free.

That is what God did for us. He sent his son Jesus to live among his people. He experienced life here, with family, friends, and work. He experienced the joys and hardships, and his life ended brutally for deeds he never did. He lived blamelessly and never sinned, but he paid the price for us. He died so that we wouldn’t. Why? Because he loves us. Jesus rose again to tell his people that He is the way to Heaven.

Just imagine, being handcuffed and escorted to a five month sentence in prison, when the judge suddenly sets you free because someone paid your debt. Wouldn’t you be so thankful? That is nothing compared to an eternity in Hell. But Jesus did that. He paid your debt so you would be free from Hell and instead spend an eternity in Heaven. What a gift! But it is a gift you have to accept through prayer.

John 3:16–18

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy. He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

How do I get to Heaven?

Nicodemus asked Jesus about this in John of the Bible. Nicodemus was a great religious leader. He fasted 2 days a week, spent 2 hours every day in prayer. He tithed. By all earthly definitions, he was a “good person”. Nicodemus approached Jesus in the middle of the night to clarify his questions and concerns about eternity.

• Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3, NIV)
• “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4, NIV)
• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17, NIV)

Jesus saw Nicodemus had covered himself with religion, but had not yet found fellowship with God. To be born again means that God will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you (Ezekiel 36:26). Old things have passed away; behold all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), We have passed from death to life (John 5:24).

Born Again

To be born again means we have to confess our sins and repent, and to accept the gift of eternity by believing in faith that Jesus paid the price for our sins. The only sin unforgiveable and unpardonable is not believing in Jesus and what He did. (Matthew 12:22-32, Mark 3:22-30)

Romans 8:10-9

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

John 1:12–13

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

Ephesians 1:13–14

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. 

Titus 2:11–14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Accept the Gift

There are no special words. There is no church leader that can work some magic. It is simply a heartfelt conversation with Jesus, your Lord. You pray. You admit to being a sinner. You recognize that as a sinner, you are destined to an eternity in Hell. You thank Jesus for paying your debt, and you accept the gift of salvation. In a sense, this is inviting the Holy spirit to live within your heart.

John 14:16

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

By inviting the Holy spirit into your life, you are agreeing to a life committed to Jesus Christ, and vow to live your life for Him. This means working at following the commandments. As I admitted earlier, it is still a struggle to fight the sinful ways, but we are a work in progress.

I invite everyone to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.

Prayer

Lord, I pray my words glorify You. I am so thankful for the courage of a friend that sought after a conversation about You. I am grateful for the opportunity to tell her and others about your grace and mercy. You are a good and just God. Thank you, Lord, for sending Jesus to pay the debt of my sins. I struggle with sinning on a daily basis, and ask for forgiveness. Thank you for loving me enough to be patient, and using the Holy Spirit to guide and teach me. I pray, Lord, that these words reach my loved ones that do not yet know you as their Living Savior. It pains me to know that some of them, were they to die today, would not know the blessings of Heaven, but would be turned away to an eternity in Hell. I pray these words serve as a driving force to bring others to you. If there is more I can be doing, please show me the way. In Jesus name, Amen.