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 of the scales 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 that is a serious misunderstanding and is wrong. Instead, God’s standard is perfection, because He is a holy God who is without sin. 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).

How then can anyone be saved and have eternal life? Only by God’s grace and forgiveness. And God has made this possible because Jesus Christ took our sins and our punishment upon Himself when He died on the cross. He is without sin, but God put all your sins on Him and He willingly died for you because He loves you.

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.

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).