I love these Facebook memes that come around, which are all done in innocent fun.  Although we know that they bear no meaning in reality, we quickly peruse the lists to find our names, and then proceed to share on our own Facebook walls.  With Christmas around the corner, the “Naughty” and “Nice” lists will fill our newsfeeds relentlessly.  So far, I have not found my name on either.

Children are told that if they are good, Santa will come; but if they are bad or naughty, he will leave coals instead of toys, or skip over their house entirely!  Sadly, many grownups believe the same scenario applies to their spiritual lives and eternal destination.  The premise that “good” people go to heaven and “bad” people go to hell is a lie from the Devil himself!  In my work with the elderly, it saddens me when they begin to fret and worry that they have not been good enough to “make it in.”  The truth is that none of us can ever be “good enough” on our own to enter into the presence of Almighty God.

The truth (which sets us free) is that our salvation cannot be earned.  It is a FREE gift called “grace” from our Heavenly Father, paid for by our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  Fortunately, it is NOT based on our works or performance.  (Ephesians 2:8)  It is given and received when one acknowledges and repents of their sin and accepts Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, giving his or her life over to Him completely.  It is offered to everyone, naughty or nice.

In our society, we tend to label and condemn those on our own mental “naughty” lists; those who have lived less-than-stellar lives.  We criticize and penalize those who have made poor choices, or done evil deeds.  While crimes must be punished and criminals held accountable, the Bible says that we ALL have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)  Even on our best days, our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of our Most Holy God.  (Isaiah 64:6)  Jesus Himself said that no one is “good” but God.  (Mark 10:18)

People often ask how a good God can send people to hell.  Well, He doesn’t.  It is our own sinful nature that drives and separates us from God as He cannot look upon sin; we cannot stand in His presence in our sinful nature, wearing our old, filthy rags.  But in His goodness, love, mercy and grace, He has provided a way to ESCAPE that horrible fate and be reunited with Him forever!  When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus’ shed blood on the Cross as atonement or payment for our sins, we are then clothed in HIS righteousness, and granted a seat in the Kingdom of God for all of eternity!  No matter what we have done, our sins can be forgiven, and we are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb – God’s only Son who was sacrificed on our behalf!   “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  (Isaiah 1:18)  

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103:12)  

Oh, how we love to distinguish the masses and divide them into groups:  male or female; naughty or nice; rich or poor; black or white; right or left, etc.  But at the end of the day and at the end of this life, there will be only two groups of people:  saved or lost.  It will not matter how “good” you have been, as none of us deserve to be let in.  The only “list” to make sure that your name is found on will be the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Will you give your life to Him today?

The best gift ever bestowed upon mankind was the original Christmas gift:  the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ!  He IS the reason for the season.  I pray that you will accept this most glorious gift today.

See ya in Heaven!  I’ll be wearing a white robe, clothed in HIS righteousness; my filthy rags having been tossed into the depths of the sea, covered by His blood for eternity!