What are you trusting in? (Part 1)

 What Gets Us Into Heaven?

Over the last several months, my prayer list hasn't necessarily changed—it has grown. As I've continued reading through the Bible, I've found myself praying more for the salvation of friends and family.

Not because I know their hearts. I don't. Only God knows that.

But because I've heard people say something over and over again. "I think if you're a good person, you'll go to heaven." Maybe you've heard that too. Maybe you've even said it yourself.

Honestly, I understand why people believe it. It sounds fair. If someone is kind, honest, generous, and tries to do the right thing, surely God would welcome them into heaven. If I'm being completely honest, if being a good person were enough, I'd gladly believe it. It would make this conversation much easier.

But maybe the better question isn't whether it sounds right.

Maybe the better question is this: Is that actually what Jesus taught? The more I read, the more I realized that I couldn't find Jesus telling people that being good was enough.

Instead, His public ministry began with these words:

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)

That raised another question for me. What does "repent" actually mean? To me, repentance means finally admitting that God is right and I'm wrong. It's admitting that I've sinned, stopping trying to justify it, and turning to Jesus instead of trusting myself.

It's a change of heart that leads to a change in direction.

It doesn't mean becoming perfect overnight. It means recognizing that I can't save myself, and trusting the One who can.

Maybe you're thinking, "How can a loving God not let good people into heaven?"

I understand that question. I've asked difficult questions too. But when I read the Bible, I don't see Jesus teaching that being good is what saves us. Instead, I see Him calling people to repent, believe, and follow Him.

Then I came across Paul's words in Romans:

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

That verse changed how I looked at the whole idea of "being a good person." The standard isn't whether I'm better than someone else. The standard is God's perfect holiness.

And compared to that standard, every one of us falls short.

Then I read these verses in Ephesians:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Paul couldn't have been much clearer. Salvation is God's gift. It isn't something we earn by doing enough good things.

That led me to another question I couldn't ignore. If being good could save us, why did Jesus have to die? The cross tells me that my sin was too great for me to fix on my own.

Jesus lived the perfect life I couldn't live, took the punishment my sins deserved, and rose again so that everyone who repents and places their faith in Him can be forgiven.

That's the gospel.

Now, before someone misunderstands me, I'm not saying our actions don't matter. They absolutely do. But good works are the result of salvation, not the reason for it.

A healthy apple tree produces apples because it's alive. It doesn't become alive by producing apples.

In the same way, Christians don't obey God to earn His love. We obey Him because He has already shown us His love through Christ.

I don't write this to prove anyone wrong. I write it because some of the names on my prayer list are people I love deeply.

If you're reading this and you've always believed that being a good person is enough, I would encourage you to do something that has changed my life this year.

Open the Bible.

Read what Jesus actually said. Don't take my word for it. Don't take your pastor's word for it. Don't take your family's word for it.

Read the words of Christ for yourself and ask one question: Am I trusting in my goodness...or am I trusting in Jesus?

According to the Bible, that question makes all the difference.

If you've never read the Bible before, or if you're not sure where to start, I would encourage you to begin with the Gospel of John.

That has become my favorite of the four Gospels. John doesn't just tell us what Jesus did—he points us to who Jesus is.

One of the clearest things Jesus says in John is this:

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Those are Jesus' words—not mine.

My prayer is that you'll read them for yourself, ask God to show you the truth, and put your trust in the One who gave His life so that we could have eternal life.


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