Heaven isn't a reward for good behavior
There’s a humorous story about a man who dies and stands before Saint Peter at the gates of Heaven. Peter explains that it takes 1,000 points to get in, and the man must list his good deeds to earn his way.
The man confidently begins, sharing that he was faithfully married for 50 years, never once being unfaithful, even in his thoughts. Peter smiles and says, "That's worth two points."
The man is shocked. He then tells Peter that he attended church all his life and tithed faithfully. Peter responds, "That's another point."
Becoming nervous, the man insists that he started a soup kitchen and worked tirelessly to serve the homeless. Peter nods, "That's good for two more points."
Frustrated, the man blurts out, "At this rate, the only way I'll get into Heaven is by the grace of God!" Peter smiles wide and says, "Exactly! Come on in!"
What a beautiful reminder. So many people live as if salvation is something they can earn, a prize they can win if they just do enough good things. But the truth is, Heaven isn't a reward for good behavior. It’s the gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ.
The point of this story isn't to discount good works. Loving your family well, being faithful to your church, and serving your community are absolutely things we should pursue. But those actions don’t punch our ticket to Heaven. They are the result of a heart that has been changed by Jesus.
The key is this: We don't do good to be saved; we do good because we are saved.
Grace is a gift, freely given. It cannot be purchased, measured, or earned. It is only received when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, trusting that what He did on the cross is enough.
When Jesus comes into our hearts, He begins to transform us. We still will have struggles and flaws, but the direction of our life begins to change. We move away from living for ourselves and start living for Him.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "I can hear the voice of Jesus saying, ‘I accept you. You are a recipient of My grace because it's in your heart. And it is so well that it’s in thine heart.’"
Hallelujah! Salvation is by grace alone. Who else can testify?