Sometimes “Good” Is Just Not Good Enough

(This devotional was written by Lonnie Wilkey, Editor of the “Baptist and Reflector,” used with his permission).

I received word that my great uncle, Blake Wilkey, had died at the age of 98. He was my grandfather’s last remaining brother. Though I had not maintained a close relationship with him, I felt like I should attend his funeral, so on New Year’s Day, my wife Joyce and I drove to Robbinsville, N.C.

Two pastors who had been good friends with my late uncle conducted the funeral. The first began his message by saying, “Blake Wilkey was a good man.” He then told about how he was a good husband, a good father, a good family man, and a good church member.

When the second pastor spoke, he added that: No matter how good Blake Wilkey was, he was not good enough to go to heaven, except for a decision he made decades ago when he confessed his sins and trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

How many of us know some really “good” people who may be our neighbors, people we work with or see at the local baseball and football games where our children play. We all know “good” people — people who would give you the shirts off their backs or come to help you fix a plumbing problem in your house.

But, are they good enough? If they were to die tomorrow, would they go to heaven? Sadly, many of us do not know because we never ask. Christians sometimes assume people’s spiritual condition because of how they live their lives—yet don’t take the time to ask if they know Jesus.

It is estimated that four million of Tennessee’s seven million population have no relationship with Jesus Christ. I would dare say that thousands of those four million lost Tennessee Baptists are “good people.” But being good is not enough.

As you drive to church Sunday, realize that eight out of ten of your neighbors will not be in church on any given Sunday. And, if you conducted a survey, you probably would discover that many of those folks are “good” people—but good is not good enough.

Why not make a resolution to really get to know the people you think you know. By doing so, if you ever have the opportunity to attend a funeral one day, you won’t have to wonder, were they “good” enough? You will know because you shared the good news of Jesus Christ with them.