When Is a Person Good Enough to Go to Heaven?
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How Good Is Good Enough?
How good does a person need to be to go to heaven? If asked, many people might say they are a good person and expect to go to heaven after they die. Ask them how good is good enough and you'll get many answers.
But how good is good enough? And if there's some way to determine this, how would a person know for sure if they were good enough?
Some of my teachers in grade school graded students on the curve. The highest score was relative to how others did on the same test. I used a sliding scale for students of different backgrounds in our Bible college overseas. I expected more from students with better education and language skills.
But God doesn’t base morality and integrity on a sliding scale. He is the basis for what is good.
This psalm tells of eleven things to do and not do. But true integrity is deeper than doing good and not doing evil.
Scripture
A psalm by David.
O Lord, who may stay in your tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one who walks with integrity, does what is righteous, and speaks the truth within his heart.
The one who does not slander with his tongue, do evil to a friend, or bring disgrace on his neighbor. [vss 1-3]
The one who despises those rejected by God but honors those who fear the Lord.
The one who makes a promise and does not break it, even though he is hurt by it.
The one who does not collect interest on a loan or take a bribe against an innocent person.
Whoever does these things will never be shaken. [vss 4-5]
(Psalm 15:1-5 GW) [Context– Psalm 15]
Reflections and Insights
Some questions are rhetorical—the answer is obvious or there is no simple answer.
How does a person live a good enough life to please God? David indicates eleven different things in this psalm. But these are values that go beyond moral behavior.
We typically boil goodness down to exemplary behavior. We see this when a parent says, “Be a good girl (or boy) and don’t....” But a person can do something good yet hold an opposite or different attitude in their heart.
We find the first three things to do in verse 2 related to the internal state of a person. Their integrity of character, not their behavior. We can see the eight other actions in verses 3-5. They define godly integrity as the internal values of a person.
Again, I ask—How can a person be good enough to go to heaven?
If God doesn’t measure goodness in a relative way, what is good enough?
Goodness is only possible when our heart—our inner person and internal values—are like God. This begins when we enter a personal relationship with God on His terms, not ours.
When a person’s integrity is based on God’s standard of goodness, they will never be shaken in this life.
Digging deeper to Make it personal...
Review the Scriptures above as you consider the following questions
What two questions are asked at the beginning of this psalm?
What do you think, "your tent [and] ...holy mountain" refer to?
What are three things a person is to do? What are three other things a person is not to do?
What are three things a person would do in relation to the Lord?
What are two more things a good person does not do?
What promise is given for a person who lives this way?
Do you think you are a good person by nature? Why do you believe this, whether yes or no?
How do you view other people in regard to being good? What's your basis of evaluating them?
Is there someone in your life that you respect as a good person? Why is this?
Do you have any assurance of being with God after your life on this earth?
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