Are you a good person?

Take the test & find out…

Most people consider themselves to be good people. However, we can have different ideas on what ‘good’ means.

The Bible says that God is good, and the Ten Commandments are His standard of goodness. So, let’s have a look – try the following test. With a tender conscience, ask yourself if you have obeyed the following.

The Ten Commandments

1. You must not have any other god but me
Have you always loved God above all else?

2. You must not make for yourself an idol
Have you made a god in your mind that you’re more comfortable with, a god to suit yourself?

3. You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God
Have you ever used God’s holy Name as a curse word?

4. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
Have you always set aside a day each week to rest from work?

5. Honour your father and mother
Have you always honoured your parents?

6. You must not murder
Have you ever hated someone? God considers hatred to be as murder.

7. You must not commit adultery
Jesus said, “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) This also includes sex before marriage.

8. You must not steal
Have you ever stolen anything? The value of the item is irrelevant.

9. You must not testify falsely
Have you lied even once? Including answering these questions?

10. You must not covet
Have you ever jealously desired what belongs to others?

Commandments quoted from Exodus 20 (NLT)

So how did you do?

The Bible says that God will punish all murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, adulterers, etc. He will even judge our words and thoughts. On Judgement Day, will you be found to be guilty or innocent of breaking His commandments?

Perhaps you think that God is good, and will therefore overlook your sins. But it is His goodness that will make sure that murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, etc. receive justice. He would be a corrupt Judge if He turned a blind eye to injustice. Have you kept the Commandments?

Are you perfect?

The Bible says that the Law is perfect. It commands you to be perfect (Matthew 5:48). Are you perfect (in thought, word, and deed)? Will you make it to Heaven? You may say that you are still good, but God says you’re not (see Psalm 14:2-3). God’s Law demands justice, and the penalty for sinning against Him is death and Hell. Listen carefully if you want to escape this fate.

God Himself made a way where His justice and His goodness could meet. We broke the Law, but He became a man to pay the fine. Jesus suffered and died on the cross to satisfy the Law. God can forgive us and grant us the gift of everlasting life!

Trying to earn heaven?

However you may still think that you can try keeping the Ten Commandments. But isn’t it true that the best of us have lied, stolen, lusted, hated, failed to love God above all else, and failed to love others as ourselves?

How can we then, live a “good” life if we have already sinned against God? At best we are reformed liars and thieves… but still Lawbreakers.

What is the price of your soul?

Think of it this way – would you sell one of your eyes for a million? Would you sell both for 50 million? Most people wouldn’t. Your eyes are priceless, yet they are merely the windows of your soul. What then must your life / soul be worth?

With these thoughts in mind, what would be a fair price to pay for everlasting life? It is totally priceless! Yet, if we trust in our own goodness to enter Heaven, we are saying to God, “I should enter Heaven because I have done good – I have earned my way in.”

The gift

Imagine if you wanted to give someone a brand new (very expensive) car, but the person said, “I can’t take it! I feel embarrassed receiving such a gift… here’s a few coins for it.” Most people would be very insulted by such a pathetic offer of payment. Besides, if the person pays for it, it is no longer a gift, it’s a purchase… it’s theirs by right.

When we talk of entering Heaven by being good, by trying to keep the Ten Commandments etc., we are tossing God some coins of “self-righteousness,” which is a terrible insult to Him, in the light of Jesus’ sacrifice. The only thing we can do is humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and receive the gift by trusting Jesus Christ alone.

God demonstrated how much He loves you when Jesus suffered for you on the cross. If you want to trust in your own goodness, then you are saying His agonising death on the cross was pointless. The Bible says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8). You cannot earn a gift.

Trust in Jesus alone

When Jesus said to “believe” on Him, He was saying we should have faith in Him, in the same way you would trust a parachute to save you when you jump from a plane. You don’t merely believe in the parachute – you put it on. Please don’t “jump” without Jesus.

If you die in your sins there is no second chance. God will give you justice, and you will end up in Hell forever. Any troubles you have at present are dwarfed by the trouble you are in with your Creator. His wrath remains on you (John 3:36).

God doesn’t want you to go to Hell. Neither do you want to go there, so confess your sins to God right now and put your trust in Jesus to save you. God will forgive you and give you everlasting life.

Prayer

Pray something like this:

“Dear God, today I turn away from all of my sins (name them). This day I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. He is the only way for me to be saved. He is ‘The way, the truth, and the life.’ Please forgive me, change my heart, and grant me Your gift of everlasting life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Next steps

Here are some tips:

  • Read the Bible everyday and get to know God.
  • Obey what you read – obedience to God is the proof of your love – see John 14:21.
  • Pray everyday – worship God, thank Him, confess your sins and pray for others.
  • Join a Bible based church and get to know other Christians.