My shoemaker is a religious, industrious man, but, on his own confession, he is not saved. I was in his shop lately, arranging to have sonic shoes repaired and took the opportunity of asking him if his soul were saved.
“No, sir; but I am trying to live a good life.”
I was forced to tell him that he could no more get to heaven that way than through trying to fly there by flapping his arms like wings. He seemed quite astonished at the statement. It would be a thousand times easier for a strong person to raise himself in a tub by his own strength, than it would be for a sinner to raise himself one inch nearer to God by “good works.”
Perhaps, like my shoemaker friend, you are astonished, arid ask,
“Why cannot a person be saved by a good life and good deeds?”
The answer is extremely simple mid final: because it is not God’s Way. It is not a sinner’s good life that will ever save him, but it is Christ’s good death that saves him.
The fairest human life is but a faulty thing when seen by the searching eyes of a holy God, and if you have nothing better to offer to God than your good life, it will go ill with you in the day of judgment.
Dear reader, can you say this?
“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Pet. 3:18.
“What shall we do that we might work the works of God? This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:28, 29.
“By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Eph. 2:8, 9, 10.
ML 04/16/1961