Good Enough?

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

My adult son was talking about a celebrity. “And Mom,” he said with satisfaction, “I think heʼs a Christian!” This comment was meant to give credence and reliability to things the celebrity said and did.

My sonʼs wife overheard his comment, and responded, “I think itʼs funny you said that, because I think most people are Christians.”

My son looked lost, so I replied to her, “What he meant is that this man follows Christ. He shares his faith with others. He loves people. He doesnʼt just believe in God. Perhaps most people believe in God, but they donʼt all follow Jesus.”

I didnʼt know my daughter-in-law believed most people are Christians. Perhaps to her, there is nothing that distinguishes a believer from a non-believer. There is no difference between them. Most people are “good” and so they are “Christians.”

It reminded me of the time I was first going to meet my future husband’s parents. We were both believers, and I asked him, “Are they Christians?”

He answered in all seriousness, “They are Americans; to them, it is the same thing.” And I might add, they also think, “Being an American is good enough.” I have often talked to people who believe that since our nation was founded on Christian principles, it follows that everyone that lives in America is Christian.

But we know it is not “good enough” to be an American. It is not “good enough” to have believing parents. It is not “good enough” to go to church. In fact, there is only one way to be saved. Acts 16:30-31 says, “And he… said, ʻSirs, what must I do to be saved?ʼ So they said, ʻBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…ʼ”

We cannot ride the coattails of our parents, our church, or our country. We each must come ALONE before the throne of God and make things right with Him. There should then be a noticeable difference about us, something that distinguishes us from everyone else. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Lord, we ask You to produce in us the fruit that will show others that we follow You. In Jesusʼ Name, Amen.