Many people believe that the way to heaven is through good works. Today I heard about a man who died unexpectedly at a young age. A friend and admirer said they knew this young man must be in heaven now because “he was a great human being and had a heart of gold”.

For their is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:22b-23

Imagine a contest where people are challenged to hold their breath as long as possible and the goal was to hold your breath for 100 years! This is completely impossible. Nobody can do it. Can some hold their breath longer than others? Absolutely. Can a few individuals hold their breath for an exceptionally long time? Certainly. The record is 22 minutes and 22 seconds. But, nobody can come remotely close to 100 years.

Gods is holy, which means He is set apart and perfect. We are not. Are some of us “better” than others? Yes. The apostle Paul wrote that he was “chief among sinners”. If Paul knew me if he might grant me that title. We cannot earn our way to God or heaven. We cant be good enough.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57

Jesus Christ was the only person who ever lived a perfect life. Then He willingly died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. He did what we can never do. Then He allowed us to be adopted as children of God. It is a free eternal gift for us to accept. He asks for our life in exchange for true life

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and life to righteousness. 

1 Peter 3:24