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I’m not bad enough to go to hell, but I’m not good enough to get into heaven

INTRO: In a world where success is often measured by performance, the concept of God’s grace and the gift of heaven can be difficult for some to grasp. So, the question of what we have to do in order to get into heaven is a recurring thougth on the minds and hearts of many.

Many people have a misconception about God and what is required for us to go to heaven. They think of God as if He held a balance or pair of scales in His hand, weighing our good deeds on one side and our bad deeds on the other. As long as our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, we think God will surely reward us with eternal life.

But I have stop by to tell you, that is a serious misunderstanding. Instead, God’s standard is perfection, because He is a holy God who is without sin.

1 Peter 1:15–16 NKJV

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

That is why the Bible warns, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). There is only one conclusion: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

But, I have some good news for you, our salvation doesn’t depend on us and our good works! If it did, no one would ever go to heaven because God’s standard is nothing less than perfection.

Don’t trust yourself and your goodness for your salvation. Instead, trust Christ and His goodness for He alone is God’s way of salvation.

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

When our faith and trust is in Him, we know we’ll be with Him in heaven forever.

SCRIP: Matt 19:16-22           And behold, one came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery;

You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property.”

PRAY

Everyday you and I have tons of choices to make in life. Some will greatly effect our future and others may have no effect at all on our lives. However, those choices that will have the most effect are those choices that God gives to you and I concerning life now and after we die, eternity.

Henry Blackaby,was a Canadian evangelical pastor who was the founder of Blackaby Ministries International. Most known for his best selling study called Experiencing God.

He once said, “Your life is the sum of the responses you have made toward God. Once God makes himself known to you, what you do next is your decision. Your reaction reflects what you believe about Him”

I. A Choice to make This was certainly true of the rich young ruler in Matthew. He was a young man who lived a moral life. He was rich in knowledge about the Scriptures and the laws of God. But his response to Jesus’ question, clearly showed that, although he had a head knowledge of the teachings of God, He did not know God in a personal, experiential way that could be demonstrated by a response of faith.

When God speaks to us, it will require an adjustment in your life. Now, this is a truth that can greatly affect your prayer life. Because when you and I pray, we have to be aware that if God answers our prayer and reveals His will to us, it will immediately require you to reorient your life. Each time we read our Bibles, we must be prepared to obey what God tells us through His Word.

Scripture teaches us, “Where much is given, much is required.”

Let’s think about it. Why did God use Peter and James and John so significantly to turn their world upside right? And why were others, like the rich young ruler never heard from again? Choices!

The disciples chose to believe, and their belief was proven by obedience. The rich young ruler could not bring himself to obey Jesus, and Scripture tells us that he “went away sorrowful.”

II. He did not Understand the Law                         When Jesus listed specific laws, the young man claimed that he had kept them. But why was he so empty? Because he completely misunderstood the law.

You see, there is a difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. Technically, he did not really keep the law. The laws were designed for us to enjoy a close relation with God as well as develop close relationships with our family, friends, and community.

The first four commandments help us with our heavenly relationship and the last six help us with our earthly relationships.His response to Jesus tells us that none of this was a reality in his life.

III. Our Choice to make You see, You and I are faced with the same choice as the rich young ruler. What adjustments are you willing to make in order to follow Jesus Christ?

When Jesus told the rich young ruler what he still lacked Matthew 19:20, the Bible tells us the ruler was discouraged because he had many possessions Mark 10:22. This young man should have been on that hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee when Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, for there He explained the Law and how He fulfilled it Matthew 5:1-7:27.

By telling the rich young ruler to follow Him, Jesus was telling told him to throw away his idols great wealth/possessions and follow the only One who could save him. Deut 6:5 exhorts us to love God with all our hearts, souls, and might. To follow Jesus meant to love Him with all he was, not what he had. That is exactly what the young man lacked, and when he was confronted with the truth of his greatest love, money, he went away because he did not want to give up his riches. The rich young ruler wanted a works-based salvation instead of a faith in Jesus Christ salvation.

At the end, the young rich ruler knew that he was walking away from God because his first love was his possessions. That’s why he went away sad. Maybe he hadn’t heard Jesus’ teaching that you will either “hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other [but] You cannot serve God and money” (Matt 6:24). The rich young ruler thought he could do both, but as we read, “he had great possessions” and so “he went away sorrowful.” Jesus was sorrowful too because Mark writes, “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him” (Mark 10:21).

If you have ears to hear the Word of God, hear it now

If we get nothing else, from this story we should really think about what Jesus said:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

This takes daily, deliberate decisions. What are you willing to do differently today so that you can invest in the important and eternal things of life?

Conclusion: Do not trust your own goodness; you can never be good enough to earn your way to heaven. Instead, turn to Christ for the forgiveness you need, and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior.

Sadly, there is no biblical evidence that the rich young ruler ever came back to Jesus to receive eternal life. The man didn’t have to give everything away. Jesus was only trying to show the man where his heart was. It wasn’t with God, that’s for sure.

It was with his possessions. That’s a good question for me or perhaps you. Do we hold loosely to our possessions and tightly to God or do we hold tightly to our possessions and are unable to hold tightly to God? Good question, isn’t it?

Do not let your pride get in the way, but admit your need to God and trust Christ alone for your salvation. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).