Aren’t all religions basically the same?
Yes, indeed; and we have no paucity of it. But we have to understand what a religion is and what is its purpose. Religion is man’s search for reaching God. We’ve so many religions because we’ve so many suggestions for reaching God. All religions teach us one thing : if you want salvation-”DO”! ‘If you do good, you will go to heaven’. But they don’t understand our basic problem. Our problem is we don’t have the strength to do good. Therefore, if salvation is your goal religions can’t help you out.
That doesn’t mean you have no options left for help. Your help is in a PERSON. And that is Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” “The son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me…”
What religions could not do Jesus Christ DID for you. He died for your sins and rose again on the third day. He is a living savior. Come to Him. He will give you the rest you are seeking vainly in the religions.
I have never harmed anyone in my life and have always helped the needy. Isn’t that a Good reason for me to go to heaven ?
I have to really appreciate you for the high standards you have kept in your life. That’s exactly we all are expected to do. That is, we have to seek the welfare of our fellow beings. Such an attitude brings peace and harmony among us as we live in this world.
Now, we are not qualified for heaven according to the degree of goodness in us. Standards for reaching heaven are not decided by you and me. Heaven is the immediate presence of a Holy God.
We are sinners before God. Sinners by birth and sinners by deeds. The justice of God demands that sinners should be punished. Even though we may try our level best to be good at others, we are sinners at heart. Our heart is desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9) All have sinned. (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23) There is a sin nature in us.
Therefore, we need to come clean of our sin. This can’t be done by ourselves. We need someone to cleanse us. No one in this world is able to do this. That’s why Lord Jesus Christ came into this world 2000+ years ago and took our sins upon himself and it’s punishment as well. According to God wages of sin is death. Christ died for us and rose again on the third day for our justification. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all our sins the moment we trust Him and receive Him as the Lord of our lives. Such a person can have access to heaven.
