Dramatic conversion stories get attention! A man full of demons becomes an evangelist. A woman with a checkered past leads a whole village to follow Jesus. Sinners, bad people, and evil doers need Jesus. But what about the good people? There are people I know who are nice to others, help those in need, and live moral lives. They live this way without Jesus. So do they really need him? It is not as if there will be some dramatic change in the way they act.

If you are one of those good people wondering if you really need Jesus, here is a story for you. It is from the book of Acts, and it is about a man named Cornelius. He was devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to those in need and prayed multiple times every day. He was a good man. God heard his prayers and sent a believer to him to tell the story of Jesus. Cornelius was so impressed that he and many of his family and friends became Christians.

He was a better man than most, and still needed Jesus. And here is why…

No one is good enough to measure up to God. God is perfect. You may be good, but you are not perfect. So are you good enough to live in the presence of God forever? You may be really good by the standards of the people around you. You may be better than most people. But you are not heaven material. No one is that good. Except God. And his Son Jesus. Which is why Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus said no one would get to the Father except by him. No one. Jesus is the way. He is truth. He is life. One way to God, and it is not determined by how good we are.

One way to heaven. And it is not any of us.
So if you are one of the really good people in this world, I am thankful for you. I appreciate that the world is a better place because you are in it. But you still need Jesus. Just like Cornelius. God made sure Cornelius connected with someone who could help him know Jesus. God still works today. Maybe that is why you are reading this article. I would like to help you know the Jesus that is the way to God for all us. Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org. Or visit our website at www.hopeforlife.org.