Quite a few years ago we went to church with John and Alma Henderson. They were the kind of Christians that just radiated God’s love. They loved the Lord, His church and His Word, and they were faithful to be a testimony no matter what circumstances prevailed. At the visitation for John, his faithful wife was standing by to greet visitors. One visitor said, “John was a good man. If anybody’s in Heaven, he is.” Alma respectfully responded, “Sure he’s in Heaven, but it’s not because of anything he did.” She then took that opportunity to tell the person the truth from God’s Word about getting to Heaven.
John was a good man and performed many good works in the name of the Lord. From all indications John is in Heaven. But, as Alma said, it’s not because of any of his good works. God’s Word is clear on the subject. God says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6 NIV) He further says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…” (Titus 3:5 KJV)
So there it is — salvation with all its benefits, a home in Heaven included, comes not by any righteousness of our own. It comes to us only because God has seen fit to show us mercy. Sometimes I wonder why He bothered to show us mercy — unworthy as we are. But He did show mercy for His own reasons. And we say Hallelujah!!
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV) Salvation comes only by God’s grace through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. God, through His Son, has already completed the work required to make salvation available. The sinner’s only action is to accept the gift by faith with a repentant heart.
Like many others, John Henderson was a good person. It is altogether fitting to remember good people as such. It is also fitting to remember that their salvation was not the result of their good works. Rather their good works were the result of their salvation. Thank God for the memory of those who accumulate treasures in Heaven. Thank God for the provision by which all of us have the opportunity to be remembered that way.