Doing Good Things
Many people think that if they do good things, especially by doing more good things than bad things, that God will be pleased and will allow them into Heaven. It's common for some to compare themselves to other people, particularly the Adolf Hitlers and Charles Mansons of the world, and conclude that they themselves aren't so bad.
There's no question that doing such things as giving money to the poor, volunteering at hospitals and nursing homes, and teaching the illiterate to read are good things. They are very good things.
But in terms of earning a place in heaven, they are useless activities.
From God's perspective, the sin of humans is offensive and must be dealt with. Justice must prevail, even against those who do so many good things and help others in need. In terms of heaven, only one thing matters to God: faith in His son Jesus Christ, who received the punishment that all sinful humans justly deserve.
