Life And Death; Good And Wicked

I have always emphasize that Christianity is the only religion in the world where the good people go to hell and wicked people go to heaven. I say it again and again because people does not seem to get it.

Let us look at this man (identified as a ruler in Luke 18:18) who came to Jesus as an illustration.

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother."
He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."

Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. (Mark 10:17-22 CSB)

This man honoured his parents, did not kill, did not tell lies, did not commit adultery. He was a good man. But Jesus asked him one question and he went away without eternal life.

At the judgement seat, Jesus is going to ask all the good people on earth one question and they will all be sad. They will not inherit eternal life.

Who are the wicked that go to heaven? The most prominent was the dying thief crucified beside Jesus. He was a thief. He confessed that he was punished justly, for he was getting what he deserved (Luke 23:41). He was a wicked man. But Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

The Bible is a big book with many words. Many times, it seems to tell us that the good will go to heaven and the wicked go to hell. But buried deep in the Bible, right at the beginning, in the book of Genesis, is this verse that tells us God's KPI:

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 NIV)

The righteousness of Abraham was credited to him by God, not something that he earned. It was there from the beginning, not something invented in the New Testament.

Finally, let us listen to the words of the most wicked sinner on earth (by his own confession in writing), none other than Paul the Apostle. Yes, SAINT Paul, the MOST WICKED man on earth.

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" - and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLT)

So let all the good people take heed. There is none so good that they do not need the saviour.

And let all the wicked people rejoice at this good news from Jesus Christ. There is no one so bad that he cannot be saved by the blood of Jesus.

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23 ESV)