Are we good enough – that is, are we good enough for heaven? Are we good enough because we don’t commit any major crimes or sins, and we do kind deeds? Will that get us into heaven?
I know I’m not. I’m certainly not good enough to get into heaven on my own steam. Yet how many times have I been told that my (rare) kind deeds will help me get to heaven! Often it’s in the form of a mild joke made by an agnostic friend. Yet the principle has broad appeal and one often sees it in movies.
I suspect most non-Christians I know think they’re essentially more good than evil. They think in terms of scales and balances where, if there really is a heaven, the heavier good side will get them there.
Paul Washer suggested a thought-experiment which made me squirm and my palms get all sweaty. In fact I didn’t want to think about it too deeply. Yet it gripped me. It’s found in the Sinners Through and Through chapter of his book, The Gospel’s Power & Message. Washer writes:
Imagine if we possessed a device that was able to transform every thought that has ever entered into our minds into a visual image and then place all those images on a film for everyone to see. Imagine that all of our family, friends, and peers were going to see this film. Wouldn’t we do everything within our power to keep them from seeing this film? If they did see the film, wouldn’t we find it difficult, if not impossible, to look them in the eyes again? If, however, against all reason, we maintained a bold countenance and claimed that we would be ashamed of nothing, would it be not evidence that we are either lying, delusional, or already seared in our conscience? The truth is that the best of us have thought things so vile that we could not share them with our closest friends! All this demonstrates that there is something in us that is simply not right. We have a propensity for evil and are inclined toward the very things that our consciences oppose and censure.
I’m glad Washer owned up to this. His admission doesn’t totally comfort me, but it does put a solid perspective on how bad we all are and why we need Christ. Of course many in the world won’t see it this way. We live in a self-affirming culture which ignores personal sin and evil. Somehow, though, I suspect that the most prideful, self-affirming person on the planet would balk at submitting to Washer’s process above (Rom 1:18-19).
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 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, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
Our only comfort is in Christ’s completed work on the Cross.
Further reading:
Four Questions to Ask about the Atonement
Eight Reasons Why People Won’t Accept the Gospel
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The Gospel’s Power & Message !
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The Gospel’s Power and Message (Recovering the Gospel)
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