Are you a good American?

Good in the sense of moral excellence. Most would say "Oh yes, definitely." Okay, take this little quiz and find out how good you are. Answer honestly, and search your conscience.

Q1. Did you ever tell a lie? If yes, what do we call someone who lies?

A liar, of course.

Q2. Did you ever steal anything, no matter how small? If yes, what do

we call someone who steals? A thief.

Q3. Did you ever have sex with someone whilst single or - when married -

outside of marriage? Yes to the first part is fornication; yes to the second is adultery.

You very likely answered yes to at least one of the three. The questions were about keeping only three of God's Ten Commandments. You didn't measure up, but the truth is we all fail. None of us meets God's holy, perfect standard. "Oh I'm only human," you may say. Exactly, and that is why you fall short. Incidentally, Jesus says if you have looked at a man/woman with lust you have already committed adultery in your heart.

In God's eyes you are not good at all.

You may be "good" compared to the guy up the street who's been in jail, but the Bible says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. "So what?" you may say." "All" means everyone, and therefore includes you.

One day you must leave this world, and the Bible says there is a Judgment Day. Can you really believe that people like Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot and Milosevc will not have to give account? They were the worst of the worst, but Bible truth says you and all of us fall short of God's standard. Revelation 20:15 says (speaking of Judgment Day) anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. Right now, your name is not in that Book if you don't have Jesus' salvation. That is all bad news.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS

Jesus went to the cross to pay the price for your sins. If that isn't good news then nothing is. The Bible says by Jesus' shed blood you are exonerated and put in right standing with God. It has already been done, but Jesus waits for you to recognize it and turn to Him. An important word here is repentance. It means to have regret. If you will recognize the Bible is truth; repent of your sins - tell God you are sorry; if you will turn to Christ, trust and believe in Him, believe in your heart He is risen from the dead as the Bible says - you have salvation. In effect, through Jesus you are pardoned by God.

It cannot be gained by your good works (as many think) because overall you always fall short of God's perfect, holy standard.

None of us have any guarantee we will be on Planet Earth tomorrow. The Bible says we do not know what a day will bring forth. Turn to Jesus today.