Tally em up

Taken from Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell:

Said the angel to the man, “Here’s how this works. You need a hundred points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things that you have done, and I will give you a certain number of points for each of them. The more good there is in the work that you cite, the more points you will get for it. When you get to a hundred points, you get in.”

“Okay,” the man said, “I was married to the same woman for fifty years and never cheated on her, even in my heart.”

“That’s wonderful,” said Gabriel, “that’s worth three points.”

“Three points?” said the man incredulously. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my money and service.”

“Terrific!” said Gabriel, “that’s certainly worth a point.”

“One Point!” said the man with his eyes beginning to show a bit of panic. “Well, how about this: I opened a shelter for the homeless in my city, and fed needy people by the hundreds during the holidays.”

“Fantastic, That’s good for two more points,” said the angel.

“TWO POINTS!!” cried the man in desperation. “At this rate the only way that I will get into heaven is by the grace of God.”

“Come on in,” said Gabriel.

Our human nature needs no help trying to man-ize the gospel, does it. We think that somehow the things we do and don't do earn us favor with God.

Standards - Point, me.

Haven't messed up like so-and-so - Nice. Point, please.

Getting up to read my Bible - oop. Another point, me.

Resisted temptation - sweet. I'm on a roll...

I'm guilty of looking at myself as having more points than others when God is saying, "You are nothing without me!" The grace of God is a wonderful thing. Oh, how I need to learn to glorify God for His wonderful grace, rather than sit back and look at myself and others comparing scores.

Josh Harris said about this quote: "Of course, if this story were more accurate, the 'point total' needed would be in the billions, we’d start with a negative score in the billions, and because of our guilt before God every good work would only take points off the board! That’s what our best works are worth! Thank God for his undeserved favor and mercy. Thank God for the blessed exchange of Christ’s righteousness for our sinfulness."

Our God is so good, isn't He?