A common misconception is that if one's good deeds and ways outweigh the bad ones, God will cut them some slack and take them into Heaven. This misses the point entirely. Some of the kindest and nicest people, some of the most generous and helpful people share a common problem with those that we too often look down on because of the attitude that "I'm not like him or her, I'm a decent person." While many of us do have high standards, none of us are good enough. You see, the problem is that those of us who have never received Jesus as our Lord and Savior do not have the sufficient righteousness that He alone can credit to us. That is the only righteousness by which we can be and will be received into God's Presence. As long as we rely on our own exercised goodness, we are clutching at a straw. The majority of mankind ignore, neglect and refuse God and the salvation He offers. To do this is the worst of all sin(s). Nothing is as evil as failure to respond to the love of God infinitely expressed on the cross. Nothing could offend the God who made such a sacrifice more than refusing to turn to Him and receive His Son as Savior and Lord. At the heart of assuming that we are good enough for God to allow us into Heaven is pride (the original sin). Only as we are willing to admit to and own our Spiritual bankruptcy, is there any hope of mercy. Being broken by the way we have treated God and put ourselves ahead of Him, and realizing how greatly we deserve His wrath and judgment, makes it possible to throw ourselves on His mercy and grace and receive salvation. Selah! When we understand that we are great sinners and come to the cross for deliverance, we will be received by a great Savior. Have you done that? If so, thank God! If you haven't, why don't you right now? It's the only time that you are guaranteed that you can. Ron
" Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).
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