Everyone I've asked this question says yes. Which is interesting. Are we good? To what standard are we judging ourselves when we call ourselves good? Is it by the list of good deeds that we do? Is it by what the world considers to be a good person? Is it because we haven't committed an egregious crime (grand theft, rape, murder)?
After having my eyes truly opened, I don't consider myself a good person.
Goodness is a subjective measurement. Let's take a look at our goodness versus one of the oldest measuring sticks ever to exist, the 10 commandments.
Have you ever lied? What do you call someone who tells lies? You got it, a liar.
Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how small or long ago? What do you call someone who has stolen something? Right again, a thief.
Have you ever used God's name in vain? That's called blasphemy. Basically you've used the name of your creator as a filth word.
So, just using 3 of the 10 commandments, I'm sure you can see where this is going. By your own admission, you're a lying, thieving, blasphemer at heart. I am too.If, and this is a big IF, God were to judge you on the 10 commandments alone on the day of judgement, would he find you innocent or guilty?
If you're being honest, you'd see he'd have no choice but to find you guilty. "But I think God will forgive me if I say I'm sorry," you say. Interesting. Let's look at it this way. You've just been found guilty of some heinous crime. The judge is getting ready to sentence you to life in prison and asks if you have anything to say. "Well, judge, by the law I'm guilty, but I'm really sorry."
If the judge just overlooked your crime because you said you were sorry, he'd be a terrible judge. God is the perfect judge, so He certainly won't overlook your transgressions against His perfect Law.
So...If God found you guilty based on the 10 Commandments alone, would you go to Heaven or Hell when you die? God's Word says that liars, thieves, and blasphemers will never see the Kingdom of God.
Now, given that you see that based on ourselves, we deserve nothing but the fires of hell, ask yourself this question...Does that concern you?
God doesn't want to send anyone to hell, but he must based on his Law. HOWEVER, do you know what God did for everyone so that you don't have to spend eternity in hell but actually in His presence?
God sent his only son, Jesus, to Earth in human form. He sent Jesus to Earth to bear all the sin of the world and take God's wrath for our sin by dying a terrible, excrutiating death on the cross.
Christ Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
What does that mean? It means that we must accept God's sacrifice. We must repent from our sins (actually turn away from our sin) and have faith in Jesus as our Savior. This isn't as easy as believing in Christ. Demons believe in Him and shudder. We must actively reject our sins and fully have faith in Christ's promise of salvation.
Why do I write all of this? Well, it's pretty simple. God told us to tell others of His plan of salvation. Also, I have several people that read this blog that I care deeply about. I want to make sure that they know the only way to heaven.
If you've read this far, thanks. Please feel free to comment.
