Good at Guessing?

By: K. B. Napier

I will give you three scenarios. Can you guess the correct answers? (Let me tell you straight away – if you have to guess, then you do not know your Bible or its theology). The questions are easy enough, so give them a try!

Two the Same?

Mr X is unsaved. But, he is altruistic. All his life he has done things for others. In school he looked after his ill mother, all on his own. She died when he was still in school, but he continued his good work by helping as a volunteer in a local hospital. He never swore, has never been in trouble with the police, and generally lives a clean and productive life.

He attended university and obtained a degree in agriculture. In his final year he went to Africa, to a tiny village, again as a volunteer, this time helping to dig out and build a fresh-water well.  He returned for his final exams and passed with an excellent grade. Immediately, He rejoined the volunteer programme, saying that he just could not get the village out of his mind, such was the gratitude of the villagers for such a simple scheme. Now, he wanted to help set up a whole agricultural programme so that they can at last stand on their own feet and grow their own food.

Mr Y is also unsaved. He was always in trouble with the police and was rarely in school. Instead he was to be found hanging around alleyways, smoking dope and cursing. He progressed to mugging old women when they had come out of their post-offices with their pensions. One lady, so it was discovered later, was killed by him.

He spent his later youth stealing cars, and then burning them. He also became very good at burglary and drug dealing. He hated churches – why, we don’t know – and actually burned one down, by throwing a petrol bomb into the open doorway when people were still inside. Some received burns and one old man died of shock later.

In prison, he was tough and unrelenting. He felt no remorse whatever and even attacked wardens, thus making his sentence much longer. He has vowed to make society pay for ‘banging him up’, and plans to start a rampage of terror in his home town.

The question is this – which of these men, still young, is the better person in the eyes of God? Can you tell?

Half and Half!

John is unsaved and is a surgeon. His work is famed in his specialty, and he has saved many lives over the years. Parents have cried happy tears when their children have been ‘snatched from a sure death’. He has a very loving disposition and has been known to waive his usual fees if someone is desperate and unable to pay. Recently, he was diagnosed with cancer and is often in agony, but he continues his work because, as he put it, “My patients need me. I can’t let them down!” He returns home to a loving wife, usually too tired and ill to move…and then starts all over again, the next day.

Jim has been saved for over 20 years and is an engineer. His wife left him recently, because he started to drink a lot. He said it was because of pressure at work.  Recently, when he had been drinking, he hit his wife and she left immediately, saying it was the “last straw”. As if in a downward spiral, Jim abruptly left his church and his job and stayed at home all day, only to leave at night to get more drink. A neighbour became suspicious because she saw some women going in and out of his home at odd times, and called the police with a complaint. Having watched him over two weeks, they found that the women were prostitutes. They knocked on his door to warn him about his behaviour, but he became abusive and so they entered his house. There they found nude magazines strewn on the floor. They looked at his computer and found images of children, so he was arrested and is awaiting trial.

Which of these men is loved by God?

Both the Same?

Both the women in this section are saved by grace. Jane is a social worker and has been for many years. Unlike so many in her field, she is willing to take risks to protect the vulnerable, and this has earned her great respect in her department and in her church, though her superiors are often anxious that she might bring disrepute on their heads! She runs a single mother group three nights a week, for youngsters who were “taken for a ride” by their respective partners and who now are left with children. Jane helps them to cope and to get things right, and, to her credit, they are responding. In about two years, several have started to attend Jane’s church, drawn by her open and loving character. Her husband is marvellous and understands when she is late home. In her church, she helps run the Sunday school, and is the person everyone goes to if they have a problem, such is her nature.

Mary is slightly older and attended the same church until a week ago. Everyone thought she was wonderful until a fateful night when a note is pushed under the door of the vestry, where deacons were holding a meeting. They were shocked by the contents, which said that Mary did not believe the Bible as she ought. This was terrible news, as she ran the women’s meetings, and the choir. She also was instrumental in so many activities. Two deacons went to see her and she started to cry, saying that God was dead to her – He never seemed to listen and her love had waned, to the point of unbelief! Despite their best efforts, Mary refused to listen and asked them to leave. Next day she resigned from the church.

Which of these ladies will enter heaven?

Notes

Did you answer correctly? In the first scenario, neither man is ‘better’ in God’s eyes! Both are unsaved and the work of the first fellow is counted as ‘filthy rags’, though it was wonderful in the eyes of the world.

In the second scenario you do not have sufficient information to come to a conclusion. However, on Judgement Day, it is the man on remand who will know final peace. The surgeon, marvellous though his work has been, has no stake in heaven.

In the final scenario we have two saved women. Again, we do not have sufficient details to come to a proper conclusion about Mary. However, both will enter heaven.

The deciding factor is not what they were like, or what they did for society, or even their churches. What matters in all the cases is this – were they saved? Behind this question is a statement – that all who are saved are saved by grace alone, and not by any works or beliefs they displayed. The sins and failings of some who are saved will not shut them out of heaven, but they will not receive the crowns given by God as a reward.

All of this comes down to election and predestination. Because God chooses who will be saved, and He saved every single person before time began, it means that our works cannot save us, nor can they bring us anything extra. To steal a paper clip is the same in terms of judgement as murdering someone. And salvation is the same for everyone – it is given as a free gift of God, for no reason apart from His wonderful love. We do not deserve to enter heaven, but we can do so because Jesus died for our sins. It is He who God sees when He looks upon those He has elected to salvation. We are totally unable to save ourselves or to seek salvation of our own volition. So, when comparing lives do so with gratitude to Almighty God, for He alone is worthy. And, no matter how good a person seems to us, works will not save them.

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Bible Theology Ministries