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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: REFUGE (08/29/19)
Most people believe that good people go to heaven and certainly that they are one of the good ones. That belief is their refuge: their hiding place. It is a solace that is not based on fact but on desire. These people are good on their own terms and that is okay with them. Various world religions hold this view because there are no other options. God has not told us what He expects of us in order to be good enough to go to heaven.

There are several inconsistencies with the belief that all good people go to heaven:

• There is no universal consensus as to what is right and what is wrong.
• We don’t know how we will be graded.
• It is not possible to know how we are doing at any given time.
• We don’t know how many good deeds are necessary for entry into heaven.
• Grading on the curve and including Mother Theresa in that curve may mean it is difficult to go to heaven.
• There once lived a major religious leader who did not believe that good people go to heaven.

After Jesus was arrested, beaten and attended His mock trial, He was stripped naked and nailed to the cross. There were two criminals crucified with Him, one on His right (Criminal #1) and one on His left (Criminal #2). Once they recognized who He was, Criminal #1 yelled insults at Jesus. Criminal #2 rebuked Criminal #1 and said that they both were punished justly but that Jesus had done nothing worthy of death. Even suffering the horrible crucifixion, the Criminal #2 admitted that they both were getting what they deserved. He then asked Jesus to have mercy on Him saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42 NIV). His time was over and with it the opportunity to do any good.

Criminal #2 was a bad dude who had lived life his own way, yet at the end he asked Jesus for mercy. If Jesus believed in the theory that “good people go to heaven and bad people don't”, what would His reaction have been to that? It was not what anyone expected as He told Criminal #2 that He would see him later in Paradise. That made no sense to the people because they believed that the criminal should go to hell because he was obviously a bad man.

Most people who think that good people go to heaven generally believe that Jesus is a good guy. However, the religious leaders wanted (and still want) to kill Him because He just doesn’t fit with their theology. It is interesting that every major cult and false religion has adopted parts of His teachings. Even Islam believes that Jesus is a prophet, but He is the one that all the prophets had been talking about. His teachings about who was going to heaven contradicted every person and every religion. All religions have a common belief that all good people go to heaven, but Jesus did not blend in with any of them. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV). He claimed to be the way to God, not just a way. If we accept the teachings of Jesus, we are contrary to all religions.

Jesus died for us when we had no power. That means when we were without the ability to right our condition unless someone intervened for us. The reason that good people don’t go to heaves is that there are not any good people. All of us are sinners. God, in His love for us, sent Jesus to die for our sins. He is our true refuge and our strength. Good people don't go to heaven. Forgiven people go to heaven.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 374 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Linda Lawrence
09/05/19
I'm impressed with the clarity and reasoning in your piece. Well-written.
Barbara Culler 
09/06/19
I'm so glad I don't need to rely on my "grade" to get to heaven!
Marlene Custer 
09/09/19
Good argument. Maybe you could tighten it up a little and submit it for a devotional.
C D Swanson 
09/10/19
Enjoyed this so much!
Thank you,
Blessings~
Janet Richey 
09/12/19
It's a tough argument that we face so often in light of the uptick of feel-good religion. This is written with clarity and offers solid counter arguments. Good read.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
09/12/19
This is an interesting mini-sermon. I could easily see it being preached in the pulpit. You make some great points.