I suspect they were much like people today: people whose lives are messy, people who sometimes make bad choices and decisions, and people who do not easily fit into stereotypes. I am still surprised at people labeled as "bad" who do nice things. I am still saddened, but not always surprised, when "good" people do bad things.

A long time ago, Jesus made the point that only God is truly good. He was right. God, who is good, wants men — who are not always good — to live in relationship with him. In fact, God wanted that so much that he sent his son Jesus to die for the bad in us. So we would be good — holy — like God. Not good because of what we do, but in spite of what we do. Good because of what he did for us, not because of what we do.

That is good news. And if they made a film of heaven, it might be like an old western. You will not have any trouble knowing who the good people are: they will be the ones who trusted Jesus.

Do you really want to tell God what a good person you are?

If this is the good news you have been looking for in your life, visit www.hopeforlife.org and check out our blog. Or contact me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.

Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" This new life is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you, sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. You may also contact us at info@hopeforlife.org if you have questions about becoming a new creation.

 

Print this Article Send it to a Friend Heartlight encourages you to share this material with others in church bulletins, personal emails and other non-commercial uses. Please see our Usage Guidelines for more information.	Performance Based Systems But I Have To Cheat...I'm Not Good Enough Invited into the Family Hope for Life!
	ALL of Heartlight        --- ARTICLES   A Taste of Home   Caring Touch   Diary of God   Hope for Life   Hope from the Hill Country   Just for Men   Just for Women   Leading in Hope   Love, Sex & Marriage   Making Life Work   Prayer for the Nation   Single...Not Alone   Special Features   Timely Truths   Together in His Grace   Two Minute Meditations        --- DEVOTIONALS   Charles Spurgeon   Daily Wisdom   My Utmost for His Highest   Praying with Paul   Quotemeal   Today's Verse   What Jesus Did

© 2008 Herald of Truth Ministries

Title: "White Hats and Cowboys"
Author: Steve Ridgell
Publication Date: October 22, 2008

The Reason for God: Belief in God in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller Responding to the questions of open skeptics and ardent believers, Keller draws from literature, philosophy, reason, and real-life conversations to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief.

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

More Heartlight Feeds

Get Heartlight articles and devotionals by email FREE every day! Daily Heartlight Today's Verse What Jesus Did! Quotemeal

More Information