Faith SavesSýnishorn

Faith Saves “The Best”

Do only the best and good people go to heaven? You might think of Mother Teresa or Billy Graham. Have you done enough to be considered one of the best of the Christian faith? These questions may seem disheartening, but I want you to see that even “the best” don’t make it to heaven by what they’ve done. No, they get there only by faith.

In Paul’s day, the Jews would’ve seen Abraham and David as “the best.” Abraham was the father of Israel, and David was the greatest king the nation had ever known. These two Old Testament figures were revered pillars of the Jewish faith. Though they did great things, these acts of service didn’t make them righteous before God. It was their faith that made them righteous before Him. This truth offers me great comfort. I do not have to earn my way into heaven by performing good deeds. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can I have eternal security and live in faith.

I used to have a mountain bike with a child carrier attached to take my kids on rides. One day, a lady asked me if the carrier was safe. She wanted to get one for her dog. I reassured her, I told her the carrier was safe as it had a roll bar, was attached to the bike, and even had big, sturdy tires. But she was still concerned. I was starting to get frustrated with her. Finally, I said, “My daughter is in there, and you’re worried about your dog?” This convinced her and she left.

I no longer have the carrier, as my kids have grown too big for it. But I’ll never forget that day in Austin when I had to convince a stranger that my child carrier was safe for her dog. This interaction resembles our relationship with God. Just as we trust that the carrier is safe for our child, we can trust that our heavenly Father is looking out for us and guiding us down the right path.

Do you trust in God like a child trusts in his or her father? Are you trying to earn what is freely given to us in Christ? You don’t have to be “the best” and do lots of stuff to go to heaven. All you must do is have faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.