May 29, 2007
Really Good Person
We often talk about getting to heaven and being surprised by who we find there – other denominations, the born-again former atheist and even the thorn in our side. I can just imagine the, “I can’t believe you made it” look running across some faces while the mouth is stammering out the, “I’m so glad you’re here” greeting. Actually, I think I’ll be even more surprised by who I don’t find in heaven. I know I’ll be searching for some loved ones who aren’t there. While on earth we can cloak ourselves in good deeds, respectable positions and acts of righteousness – but salvation isn’t weighed on the he’s-a-really-good-person scale.
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2 comments:
Gail;
-----I have my hands so full trying to keep my own feet on the path that I don’t have the time or energy to assess whether or not another will be in heaven. Yet the pressures to do so are great. If there is not the inclination to medicate wounds caused by another with the thought that your eternity will not be cluttered by his/her existence, then there is the pressure to know if I need to apply some soul-saving Heimlich Maneuver on a brother choking to death on sin. Frankly, both attitudes are far out of line with the Word. Scripture gives the knowledge of one’s eternal destiny to God alone. On that note such ponderings should cease.
-----There is always a part of me that cringes inside when I think that this one or that one may not make it to heaven, even if this one or that one is Adolph Hitler or Mother Teresa. I dare not even encroach that little on His judgment throne. And I fear worse if I do not compel myself to be real in Him, knowing how narrowly I have escaped what I was doing and how greatly I need to escape what I am still doing.
-----As long as this life in a twisted and deceitful existence has our bodies trapped we will never be perfect in deed, thought, or feeling. Sin will be an annoying reoccurrence until we die. So I can not be more surprised to see my brother trip over some sinful deed than I am surprised to know my own tripping. And the impossibility of knowing exactly where God’s patience and grace with my sins becomes His judgment and wrath for my hypocrisy is the impetus for my leaving such stuff up to Him while living my life as sincere to the Word as I can. Nor do I have any better hopes of knowing God’s mercy or judgment towards another. My only allowable response when seeing a brother or sister in sin is to encourage the same sincerity in them.
Over the years when talking about the deceased, I have heard people say, "If anyone deserves to go to heaven it's him/her. They were such a good person!" It's sad that they don't realize that none of us are good enough, and that only through Christ can any of us get there.
Another other thing I've heard, especailly when talking about someone who has had a long, fatal illness is this. "It's good that they could finally go. There's a lot of things worse than death." I always tell them, "You're right if they were a Christian, but if they weren't they're a lot worse off, and they can't come back and change it."
I've been met with stunned silence, but I pray that at least I've made them stop and think about their own destiny when their lives are over.
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