The Ancient Teaching That Gives Peace

In 1986, a poll by USA Weekend magazine asked people about their chances of going to heaven. The answers were a fascinating mix of hope, uncertainty, and a hint of self-appraisal:

• "My chances are 50-50, but the older I get, the more I think my chances will improve."

• "My chances are kind of slim—maybe 50-50. You have to be more than a nice person, but I’m still in the running."

• "My chances are 85%. I don’t think the entrance exam will be that tough."

More recent surveys from Pew Research Center and CBS News show that these sentiments haven't changed much. While more people now identify as atheist or agnostic, the majority still believe in a place of eternal reward, and most are optimistic they'll get there—but they lack a solid assurance. Where does this uncertainty come from?

The Agonizing Search for Salvation

Martin Luther, the 16th-century German theologian, faced this same agonizing question. In 1505, he entered a monastery with one goal: to save his soul. He believed that through a life of extreme piety and monastic vows, he could earn God’s favor. He was a meticulous and devout monk, but his efforts were driven by a profound terror of an unapproachable, holy God.

At his first mass, as he recited the words, "We offer unto thee, the living, the true, the eternal God," Luther was seized with panic. He wrote, "With what tongue shall I address such Majesty, seeing that all men ought to tremble in the presence of even an earthly prince? Who am I, that I should lift up mine eyes or raise my hands to the divine Majesty? ... I am dust and ashes and full of sin and I am speaking to the living, eternal, and the true God."

Plagued by the question of how a sinful man could stand before a holy God, Luther dedicated himself to a maniacal pursuit of holiness. He fasted for days, performed endless vigils, and even slept without blankets in the dead of winter as penance. He later reflected, "If ever a monk got to heaven by his monkery it was I. If I had kept on any longer, I would have killed myself with vigils, prayers, readings and other work." Yet, despite all his efforts, he found no peace. He never felt the ledger was truly balanced.

Do you ever feel this way? That no matter how hard you try, you can never quite measure up? This is the core of the human struggle for salvation. We are wired to believe that our actions can earn us a place in heaven, but our hearts tell us it's not enough.

Finding Peace in the Psalms

We can find a different perspective in the Book of Psalms, a collection of songs that serve as a spiritual guide. Music has a unique ability to speak to our souls, heal emotional pain, and help us see ourselves and our relationship with God in a new light. Let’s turn to Psalm 1.

This psalm presents a clear contrast between two types of people, two paths, and two destinies: the godly and the ungodly. The godly person is described as "blessed," a word derived from the Hebrew esher, which signifies an inner peace and contentment that comes from a right relationship with God. This person has an optimistic assurance that everything will be okay because they have an inheritance in heaven that cannot be taken away.

But how can we attain this level of assurance? The answer lies in understanding two aspects of God’s nature: His holiness and His love.

The Law Gate vs. The Grace Gate

God’s holiness means He is perfectly set apart, morally pure, and righteous. To understand this holiness, we must understand His law, which He has written on our hearts (our conscience) and in His Word. The law reveals our imperfection. We tend to think God grades on a curve, but as James 2:10 says, "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws." The standard of holiness is perfect obedience, a standard we cannot meet.

This brings us to the first path to salvation, which we can call the "Law Gate." The sign at this gate reads: "Keep the commandments; escape the penalty. Break the commandments; suffer the penalty." To enter this way, you must be perfect. No one can pass through this gate.

The other side of God’s nature is His agape love—His unconditional, self-giving will, care, and affection for us. While holiness demands, love gives. While holiness requires perfect obedience, love grants forgiveness. This is the "Grace Gate." The sign here is different: "Keep the commandments, but suffer the penalty. Break the commandments, but escape the penalty."

This seems unfair, right? It goes against our sense of justice. But this is the essence of grace. The one who perfectly kept the commandments but still suffered the penalty was Jesus Christ. We are the ones who break the commandments but are offered a way to escape the penalty through His sacrifice.

As 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Every other religion in the world teaches that salvation is dependent on a person's performance, leading to a life of fear and anxiety about death. But Christianity offers a different way. By appealing to God's grace, not our own efforts, we can find true peace and assurance.

You can end the anxiety over your eternal fate today. By placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and undergoing baptism, you can have the assurance that you will—without a shadow of a doubt—go to heaven when you die. When you have this assurance, your life will reflect that of the blessed man in Psalm 1. You will have peace, security, and a purpose that will allow you to flourish, like a tree planted by a stream, whose leaves never wither and who always bears fruit.