I like the story about the fellow who died and appeared before St. Peter at the gates of heaven. He said, “I’ve come to get in.” And St. Peter said, “You can only get in here by the point system, and it takes a thousand points to get in.” Well, that’s no hill for a stepper, so he said, “I think I can make it. I was active in my church. I taught a Sunday school class. I sang in the choir. I served on the deacon body. I did everything a person could do in the church. I was as active in the church as a person could be, and that ought to score a lot of points.”
And St. Peter said, “That’s good. That’s wonderful. That’s one half of a point.”
The man thought, “Oh my soul! After all that I did, I only get a half of a point—and it takes a thousand to get in?” He said, “Well, let me tell you about my civic life. I served on the Board of Stewart Blood Center, and I was active in the Chamber of Commerce. I fought against pornography and I was in the Lion’s Club. I was active in every phase of my community life. I was a civic leader. That ought to count for something.”
St. Peter said, “That’s good. That’s commendable. That’s another half of a point.”
The man thought, “Oh, no! All I’ve done in the church and all that I’ve done in the community counts for so little. It takes a thousand points to get in.” Finally in despair, he said to St. Peter, “Man, if I get into this place it will be by the grace of God.”
And St. Peter said, “That’s 999 points.”
Let me tell you, if you get in, it will be by the grace of God. It will not be by what you did in or through the church, or by your fine civic community service. It will be because one day Jesus died on the old rugged cross. It will be because the hands of the unseen God reached down and tore that veil in the Temple. From top to bottom he ripped it open and said, “Now it is finished. The sacrifice has been made. The way is open. Welcome in.” Whenever and wherever there is a person who will hear and answer that invitation, there is life and salvation and forgiveness and hope.