Aren't I already going to Heaven?
The Barrier of Sin >>I Lived A Good Life
Aren't I a good person? Sure, I have flaws, but so does everyone — after all, it's human to have flaws, to have selfish moment, right? God will see that I was just trying to do my best. I haven't done anything to deserve Hell!
Sadly, this reasoning convinces many people that they are going to Heaven, when they are really destined for Hell! Sorry to put it so bluntly, but that is the hard truth. Why is that reasoning wrong? Because we are judging our goodness by our own standards. Our human standards. What guarantee do we have that those are the same standards that God will use when judging us? The answer is, none at all — it's really just wishful thinking.
The fact of the matter is, God has made it clear through the Bible that his standard is much higher than that. His standard is perfection. Because perfection and holiness are characteristics of God's very being, he cannot go against his own nature and be imperfect. To do evil would contradict God's fundamental nature and would make him less-than-God. Likewise, for God to allow evil into his presence would be equally intolerable. It is precisely because he cares about good, that God is so uncomprimising about punishing evil. An indifferent God might not punish evil, but is that the kind of God worthy of praise? One who doesn't care if girls are raped, children are murdered, poor people are victimised, or rich people are greedy? Would you admire a God who would allow evil to run un-checked throughout the world, without so much as shedding a tear? The Christian God is a God who cares infinately about good, which means he is likewise infinately offended by evil. Unfortunately for us, we are part of the evil.
How can I be good enough for God?
Nobody can be 'good enough' for God just by being a selfless person, or even by devoting their whole life's work to charity or to human-rights defense! Nor can they be 'good enough' by going to church every week, and living a 'holy' life! Because no matter how hard we try to be good, it is in our nature for us to do evil as well, and we will never be able to meet God's standard of perfection. Never! Neither can we balance out our evil by doing enough good works. By ourselves, we have no way to please God and therefore we cannot earn our way into Heaven.
The fantastic news is that God has made a way for us to get right with him. Jesus paid the ultimate punishment - death - so that we wouldn't have to. Read about it!
The Barrier of Sin >>