Sincerely Wrong

Sincerely Wrong

(Read Isaiah 64:6-8)

Dana and Dan were spending the week with their uncle and aunt, and one day they got into a discussion on how to get to heaven. “The Bible says that only people who admit they’re sinners and accept Jesus will go to heaven,” Uncle Scott told them.

“But we know lots of really good people,” argued Dan. “They go to all different kinds of churches and probably believe all different kinds of things. But they’re all sincere.”

“Yeah,” agreed Dana. “How can anybody say they’re not going to heaven?”

That night, Dana heard a groaning sound coming from Dan’s room. She went to investigate. “O-o-oh,” moaned Dan, “my stomach! What can I do?”

“You ate too much tonight,” scolded Dana. “But I saw some pink stuff in the medicine cabinet—stuff like we use at home. That should make you feel better. It’s on the top shelf in a white bottle.”

Dan headed for the bathroom and took the medicine. Then he tried to sleep again but soon gave up. He called his sister. “If anything, that medicine made me worse,” he told her.

“Did you take the pink stuff?” Dana asked.

“Pink stuff?” Dan groaned. “I thought you said the white stuff in the pink bottle!”

Quickly, Dana called Aunt Sue and explained what had happened. Aunt Sue checked, and she saw that what Dan had believed to be something that would help his stomach was actually hand lotion. “I don’t think it will hurt you,” she said, “but we’ll check with the doctor to make sure.” She headed for the telephone and soon found out what to do.

“It really is silly to think it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere about it, isn’t it?” Dan said when Uncle Scott talked with him. “I sure was sincere when I took that stuff last night. Now I know what you meant about people being sincere but still being wrong and missing the way to heaven.”

Uncle Scott nodded. “I’m glad you realize that now,” he said. “It was bad enough to be wrong about the medicine, but it’s much worse to be wrong about the way to heaven. Jesus is the one and only way.” HCT

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you think it doesn’t matter so much what religion you follow? Do you believe everyone who sincerely does his best will go to heaven? That isn’t true. Did you notice what God says about your good works, sincere though you may be? He compares them to filthy rags! Quit doing things your own way and come to Jesus.

You Can Be Sincere—But Wrong

MEMORIZE:

“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6, NIV