Road Trip - Part 1

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23

I once asked a teen, "Do you think you've been good enough to get into heaven?"

"Yes, I hope so," was their answer.

Then I had them read the verse above from the book of Romans, followed by this one.

"No one is good except God alone." - Mark 10:18

And those were the words of Jesus! 

"What do you think now?" I asked.

This person, a pastor's kid, just stood there, looking quite disappointed.

When Jesus, who is Himself God, tells you that you are not good, that should tell you something. Read the opening verse again.

"For ALL fall short..."

That includes you, me, your pastor, the Pope, Billy Graham, and a newborn baby. ALL.

No matter what ANYONE does they will never, EVER, be "good enough" to earn their way into heaven.

This is nothing new. It's not just a New Testament thing.

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." - Isaiah 64:6

"Oh, great! So.... now what?"

Society today is all about pleasing everybody. EVERYBODY gets a participation trophy.

"What do you mean I'm not good enough to go to heaven? How dare you!"

"Well, just wait my friend. It gets worse."

[Come back on Wednesday to find out just how bad it gets. This short series on the Romans Road to Salvation DOES have a happy ending, but sadly, only for some]