Many people think their eternity is secure because they are pretty good people. They have some vague idea that God will weigh their misdeeds against all the good things they’ve done and they’ll manage to “get in.” Others believe they’re righteous because they were baptized as a child or have taken certain sacraments. Still others believe it’s because they belong to a certain church or have performed certain religious activities. But … Could this kind of righteousness, actually, keep you out of heaven?
Today’s Readings:
Deuteronomy 9 & 10
Psalm 37.12-17
Proverbs 12.11
Luke 1.57-80
Could Your Righteousness Keep You Out of Heaven?
Deuteronomy 9 & 10:
What Kind of Righteousness?
In today’s reading, God, through Moses, emphasized that He would bless the Israelites, not because of their own righteousness, not because they deserved it, but because of His mercy.
C.J. Mahaney says in his book, The Cross Centered Life:
Everything in the Old Testament points toward Jesus Christ and enriches our understanding of the cross (see Luke 24.27). The drama of redemption begins in the Garden in Genesis 3 and continues to unfold throughout the Old Testament until it reaches its climax at the cross. All along the way the Divine Author prepares us for Calvary. The symbolism of the sacrificial system, the strictness of the law, the repeated failures of man, the steadfast faithfulness of God—all this and more deepens our amazement at the cross.
Thankfully, like the Israelites, our position with God does not depend upon our own righteousness. As Paul Tripp says, in his book Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, we cannot boast in our righteousness because we don’t have any (Phil. 3.9)! We are all sinners saved by grace alone (Eph. 2.8-9) and have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3.21-23). His righteousness was imputed to us on the basis of His sacrificial death and sinless life.
But like the Israelites, we need to remind ourselves of that fact, because in our pride and self-sufficiency, we see ourselves as basically good (Prov. 20.6). If we are basically good, perhaps with some minor character flaws, then, as someone has said, the cross was “a cosmic over-reaction for a people who only had a case of spiritual sniffles.” That kind of thinking is not only wrong, but it keeps many from seeing their need for Christ.
Many people expect to spend eternity in heaven because they don’t believe they’re all that bad. They have some vague idea that God will weigh their misdeeds against all the good things they’ve done and they’ll manage to “get in.”
Adam & Eve, Petty Thieves?
A friend told me last night about a quote he’d read. The writer said that Adam and Eve’s sin was basically “petty theft.” Of course, we know they weren’t condemned because they stole fruit. They were condemned because of their disobedience. They broke God’s law, His direct command. But the Apostle John said, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness (1 Jn. 3.4).
I grew up believing that pretty much everyone went to heaven. We believed “in” God, but sadly, a god of our own creation. I remember asking my mom once how I could know I’d go to heaven. She said I just needed to be a good person. You can read my testimony but, in short, God had to let me see that I wasn’t good. In fact, we can never be good enough (Rom. 3.10-18).
I Never Knew You
But our churches and neighborhoods are filled with people who believe much like I did growing up and have never truly grasped the gospel. They may believe on an intellectual level that Jesus died for their sins but have failed to see their desperate need for a Savior. They may come to church, give up their bad habits, and hang out with Christians as if that makes them right with God. Yet, Jesus said:
21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt. 7.21-23).
None of us can be righteous apart from the finished work of Christ.
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom. 10.1-3).
Each of us must put our faith and trust in Christ and Christ alone (Matt. 3.23, 6:23; Jn. 3.3, 14.6; Rom. 10.9-10; 2 Cor. 5.15; Rev. 3.20). When we do, not only does His death on the cross become the payment for our sins, but the righteous life He lived is credited or imputed to us, as well.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 37.12-17:
The Arms of the Wicked
A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous (vv. 16-17).
The “arms of the wicked” represents their power and strength. If our power and strength come from riches or military might or youth or political influence or anything besides God, they’re subject to fail at any moment. But when we rely on God and His strength, we have an unlimited source!
Proverbs 12.11:
Fruitfulness or Frivolity
He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.
“Frivolity” is all the worthless things that can eat away our time and cause us to be unproductive.
Ephesians 5.15-17 says:
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Let’s spend our days on things that have eternal value. Amen?
Luke 1.57-80:
Our Need for a Savior
Just as the Old Testament pointed to Jesus Christ, so did Zacharias’ prophesy. And so did the ministry of his son, John the Baptist. His preaching and baptism of repentance were to prepare the hearts of the people to receive their Messiah. As they saw their sin, they would more readily “see” their need for a Savior.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll look at warnings about fortune tellers and their lot, talk about how trusting God applies to our choices, and discuss when to help (especially our grown children) and when to get out of the way.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them.
This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s readings and a list of all the Bible readings so you can check them off as you go. You’ll also find the readings for each day on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here.
And if this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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