The prevailing opinion in our society seems to be that good people go heaven. But how good is good enough? Is 51% good deeds good enough for heaven? Maybe 60%; or 75%. What is God’s standard of goodness?
Actually, Jesus disappointed and probably angered a lot of people on the idea of being good enough when He told the crowd gathered for the Sermon on the Mount that they had to be better than the Pharisees (the best of the Jewish society). Jesus said, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:20) How can anyone be better than the best? Impossible!
Then, Jesus later suggested that people who had lived a life full of bad deeds could go to heaven by confessing and believing when He addressed one of the criminals who was crucified with Him. 39 One of the criminals who hung there, hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
God, however, in His infinite mercy, grace and love, provided the solution in ultimate fairness when He provided the baby of Bethlehem whose birthday we celebrate during this season. By all means, our sins—the sins of the whole world—rightfully disqualify us from heaven, but God provided a way. We did nothing whatsoever to merit or deserve His gift. That is the amazing truth of Christmas! Despite who we are, God sent His Son so “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
