Good Enough for Heaven — E.A. Johnston

Heaven. You've probably heard that good people go to heaven. When Billy Graham was being interviewed on TV, he said that he believed good people went to heaven. Many believe that to be true. People who do good in the world like talented entertainers who bring happiness to millions, philanthropists who give millions to charity, or a scientist who discovers a vaccine which saves millions of lives.

The False Hope of Human Goodness

People who have done good to mankind and are good enough for heaven. Even people you know who are honest, hard-working individuals and who will help others in need. They do good with their lives. You may fall into that category as well, friend.

The Myth of God's Balancing Scale

Good enough for heaven. God's scale. Do you consider yourself a good person? Do you? After all, you're not as bad as you could be. You've done good things in life. More good than bad. Many assume that God keeps a scale of balance in heaven where he weighs our good deeds against our bad.

And if the good outweighs the bad, then we're good enough for heaven. That's how most folks think. You may think that way as well. In comparison to others, you look pretty good. Your good outweighs your bad.

Many assume God keeps a scale and the good they've done in life makes them good enough for heaven. God's law. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. This is God's law. Number one, you shall have no other gods before me.

Number two, you shall not make idols. Number three, you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Number four, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Number five, honor your father and your mother.

Number six, you shall not murder. Number seven, you shall not commit adultery. Number eight, you shall not steal. Number nine, you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Number ten, you shall not covet.

God's Perfect Law and Humanity's Sin

This is God's law and it is perfect. But man is imperfect. God requires perfection to get into his holy heaven. But the Bible says this about man. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

We sin, we fail, we fall short of God's standard of acceptance. The only man who ever walked this earth and who was perfect was Jesus Christ. But God's law demands perfection. We have a sin problem because of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God.

And that sin problem is passed down to each of us who were born into this world. For man enters the world under a curse with a corrupt nature and a bent toward sin. You're not a sinner because you sin.

Rather, you sin because you are a big sinner. Are we still good enough to go to heaven? Will our good deeds overcome our sins? Perhaps in our eyes. But in the sight of God we have broken his perfect law.

And we deserve to be condemned. You go break the laws of your country and you'll be arrested and tried. Sentenced and in prison for breaking the law. God is a God of justice. All who break his law will one day be tried.

Judgment, Condemnation, and Hell

Sentenced and condemned to a prison. A prison that has no exit doors and no parole. This prison is called hell. Hell is described as outer darkness. A bottomless pit. A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A lake of fire. No one in their right mind wants to go to hell. And be imprisoned in endless suffering and misery. Every human has sinned and broken God's strict law. The sentencing of the law will be carried out at a future day of judgment.

Look at this terrible scene, friend. As described in the Bible. In the book of Revelation. And I saw a great white throne. And him that sat on it. From whom, whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.

And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. And the books were opened. And another book was opened. Which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things.

Which were written in the book according to their works. Here we see our good works. Read out loud before God. And we have a lot of good to represent us and to commend us to God. But unfortunately, some of the things written in the books.

Which represent the biography of our life. Are not so good after all. They are bad. Very bad in God's pure eyes. Our sins stand out in black print on white paper. Before a holy God. There we stand guilty as charged.

This is our sin problem. And this sin problem is enough to keep us out of heaven. And sadly, our sin problem is enough to send us straight to hell. What can we do to please God? We realize that we're not good enough for heaven now.

I'd be pretty scared if I were you friend. Hell is a terrible place full of demons. And intense heat from all the fire. The Bible speaks of the terror of the condemned. The sinners in Zion are afraid.

Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell. With the devouring fire. Who among us shall dwell. With everlasting burnings. We aren't good enough for heaven. But we're good enough for hell.

Jesus Christ, God's Son and the Perfect Savior

God's son. I want to tell you friend about God's son. Jesus Christ. The Bible has this to say about him. For God so loved the world. That he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believes in him.

Should not perish. But have everlasting life. Jesus was good enough for heaven. And he left heaven to come down here. So we can go up there. I'm going to share with you a story. That will help explain how we can go to heaven.

Even though we deserve hell. Listen to this story friends. For it can change your life. I heard about a man. Who was traveling through the city of St. Louis. Perhaps you visited St. Louis yourself. Well this man was passing through St. Louis.

And it was Sunday morning. So he decided to park his car. At a downtown church. And go into the service. Once inside. This man realized. He was the only white man. In an all black church. He took his seat on the back row.

So not to disturb anyone. For the service had already begun. Up on the platform. Was a well dressed elderly man. Who was the pastor of that church. And he was speaking on the subject of heaven that morning.

The Thief Who Entered Heaven Through Christ

And this is what he had to say. He said. Some folks call heaven a paradise. Others call it Abraham's bosom. But I see heaven this a way. Here is Jesus. Just returned from his earthly ministry. And the angel Gabriel greets him at the pearly gates.

Hello Jesus. Sure is good to see you Jesus. We sure missed you up here Jesus. Welcome home Jesus. But wait a minute. Who's that with you? Is that that thief? That thief from the cross? Oh no sir. I'm sorry Jesus.

We can't have no thieves up here. Jesus replied. Never you mind Gabriel. Never you mind. And Jesus placed his arm around the thief in a hug. And said to Gabriel. Open the gate. He's with me. Good enough for heaven.

That thief was because. He stood in the merits of another. The Lord Jesus Christ. Listen friend. I know. I'm not good enough for heaven. I once thought I was. But now. I know I am a sinner. In need of a substitute for sin.

In the person of Christ Jesus. And so do you friend. So do you. My sin problem is solved. In the person of Jesus Christ. Who suffered and died on a bloody cross. For me and my sins. I'm no better than that thief on the cross.

I've stolen things in my life. I've lied. I've broken God's perfect law. Because I'm not perfect. I need a savior from sin. So I won't go to hell. I need to get my sins under his blood. So I can have forgiveness for sin.

And receive pardon from God. My good works can't make me good enough for heaven. But I can be good enough. In God's sight. By standing in the merits of his son. All I need is Jesus. And on that day. He will wrap his arm around me and say.

Repentance, Faith, and the Gospel Promise

He's with me. Good enough for heaven. Listen to the promise of God in his gospel. To all who repent and believe. Jesus said. I am the way. The truth. And the life. No man cometh unto the father. But by me.

I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me. Shall never hunger. And he that believeth on me. Shall never thirst. Listen to me dear friend. Who now realizes that. You are not good enough for heaven. The gospel is for the hungry.

The weary. And the thirsty. Are you hungry for God? Are you weary of your sins? Are you thirsty for Christ? The duty required is to come to Christ. For salvation from sin. And he has a pure gospel promise to all who come.

He that cometh to me. I will in no wise cast out. Christ is the remedy for sin. One day. You can stand next to him. As he declares. Open the gate. He's with me.