Why should God let you into Heaven?

‘Preacher’s Point’ By Tim Johnson

Without getting into a sizeable theological debate on the several different judgments the Bible talks about, let us assume, come judgment day, God asks you a straightforward question, “Why should I let you into heaven?” What would your answer be?

Let us examine what would be some of the more popular answers.

“I was a pretty good person.” In other words, “The good in my life, outweighed the bad.”

That is all fine and dandy, but several problems come up immediately.

Who is making the deciding factor on what is good and bad? As an example, abortion is looked at by some people as murder, while others see nothing wrong with it at all. So, on the good/bad scale, which side does abortion go, and who determines that? On the sliding scale between murder and nothing wrong at all, there is a considerable gap.

Another problem persists with this “the good in my life has outweighed the bad” argument – no matter how much good you have done; there are still things on the wrong side of the scale.

Yes, there are murderers, rapists, and child molesters out there. Thankfully, most people can truthfully say they have never physically done these things.

However, think of a court of law for a moment. The killer and the guy with a dozen parking tickets does not stand as co-defendants. Example – a man with outstanding parking tickets is scheduled to stand before a judge. He cannot use the defense, “Judge, what I have done is not nearly as bad as the guy in here yesterday, whom you found guilty of murder. So, therefore, you should let me go.”

The judge will not say, “You know, you are right.

I have had a lot of heinous people come through here lately. I think I will rip up all your tickets.”

We have here people who expect the fact that they were preachers, that they were people who help change people’s lives, turning alcoholics, drug addicts and others to God; people who have rolled up their sleeves and accomplished incredible things for God, finding out hell awaits them.

It looks like we may all be doomed.

Jesus said He was the only way to God the Father (John 14:6). In the verses above and all throughout the Bible, we read that faith in His blood as the perfect sacrifice for our sins as the means to eternal life.

Romans 3:21-23, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

If God asks, what will your answer be?

Preacher Johnson is Pastor of Countryside Baptist Church in northern Parke County Indiana. He can be reached via email at preacherspoint@gmail.

com.