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How many of the Ten Commandments can you name?Do you ever think about God or what happens to you when you die? I want to answer these questions and more in this little tract.

Would you consider yourself a good person? Well then how many of the Ten Commandments have you broken? Have you ever told a lie, then that makes you what? A liar. Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how small, then that makes you what? A thief. Have you ever been jealous of something someone else had, then that makes you what? A coveter. Have you ever said something about someone even if you knew it wasn’t true, that makes you what? A bearer of false witness. So if you said yes to any or all these this makes you a liar, thief, coveter, and false witness. And there are still six more commandments left.

Does this begin to make you feel guilty now, that maybe you’re not as good as you thought? Matthew 19:17 says, “There is none good but one, that is, God.” So we see here that man is born a sinner and no one can be good but God. God says in Revelation 21:27 that no sin can enter into Heaven. So by breaking any of the Ten Commandments, we see that you are a sinner. But you are not alone. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” So then what hope is there for us? James 2:10 says that the commandments leave us all guilty before God.

If God judged you right now based on His law and the Ten Commandments, would you be guilty or innocent? Would you go to Heaven or Hell?

If you said to yourself that you would still go to Heaven because God will overlook your sin, then think about this story. Imagine that you’ve committed rape, murder, drug pushing—very serious crimes. The judge says, “You’re guilty. All the evidence is here. Have you anything to say before I pass sentence?” And you say, “Yes, Judge. I’d like to say I believe you’re a good man and you’ll overlook my crimes.” The judge would probably say, “You’re right about one thing. I am a good man, and because of my goodness, I’m going to see that justice is done. Because of my goodness, I’m going to see that you’re punished.” Because God is a good Judge, then He has to make sure that sin is punished according to His word, which is death. God’s goodness—the very thing most people are counting on at the judgment—is the very thing that will actually condemn them.

So if God gave you the justice you deserve right now, you wouldn’t be headed for Heaven would you? But don’t be too discouraged yet, God did make a way for us. Listen to this story. You were brought into court because you were found guilty of murder. Today is your sentencing day where you know you will be sentenced to death. The judge says, “ok, bailiff, let him go free.” He explains to you that someone you don’t know has stepped forward to take your death penalty for you.

This is what Jesus did for us. He stepped into the courtroom of our lives and paid the price. But it’s no good if we don’t accept His gift. He was crucified on the cross, buried, and rose again to be seated at God’s right hand this day. All we have to do is confess we are a sinner (1 John 1:9), accept what Jesus has done for us on the cross (John 3:16), and trust Him in our heart (Romans 10:9).

If you are ready to put your trust in Jesus Christ, here is a sample prayer of a sinner’s confession:

“Jesus, I come to you as a sinner and ask you to forgive me of all my sins. I acknowledge with my mouth you are God’s Son and believe in my heart you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart and be Lord of my life.”

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