I was talking to an atheist the other day, whom I’ve had many conversations with in the past. He said he didn’t believe in God (he’s said this many times in the past). But this time he stated again that he didn’t believe in God; but if he’s wrong, that God would consider him a good person. This atheist is very close to me, someone that I love. I genuinely believe that he thinks that he is a good person.
By our human standard he is. He goes out of his way to help others. If you called him in need, he would do whatever he could to help you out. He is a good human being, again, by our standards.
His response is exactly why I believe in the Good Person Test. Proverbs 20:6 says, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” Proverbs 21:2 states, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord ponders the hearts. Most human beings think they are good, by our human standards.
But God is going to judge us by the 10 Commandments. Hebrews 9:27 states, “It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment. So how will you do on Judgment Day? Let’s find out. How many lies have you told over your life time? (Most of us have told so many we can’t count them). Have you ever stolen anything, even if it was something small or invaluable? Have you ever used God’s name in vain? Have you ever looked with lust? Jesus said that lust is the same thing as adultery of the heart. Have you ever hated anyone? The Bible says that hate is the same thing as murder. Have you ever wanted something that belonged to someone else?
So how did you do? We’ve all lied, most have stolen something, most have blasphemed God’s name (which is very serious), we’ve all hated someone at one time or another and we have all coveted something or someone. (We’ve all wished we had someone’s life, wife, money, house or car.)
Will you be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day? This isn’t based on our human standard, this is based on God’s standard. You see God is righteous, Holy and just. He is perfect. His standard is perfection. The book of James says that if you break one commandment, you’ve broken them all. Obviously, we will all be found guilty. Because God is righteous, Holy and just, He will have to punish our sin. That punishment is eternal life in Hell.
The Good News is that not only is God righteous, Holy and just; He is loving, merciful and full of grace. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus Christ (who lived a perfect and sinless life) to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. You broke God’s Law, but Jesus paid your fine. You are guilty, but you can legally go free. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Eternal life is a gift from God. God grants eternal life to those who repent by turning away from sin, turn toward God, and put their faith in Jesus.
None of us can pass the Good Person Test. God knows our short comings, He know that none of us are righteous (Romans 3:10). So accept the free gift from God. Turn away from your sins and surrender your life fully to our Lord Jesus Christ.