Most people have a works-based mentality. When asked the question: "If you were to die tomorrow where would you go, heaven or hell, and why?" Many generally respond with heaven, because they are a pretty good person. They will often detail those things which make them good: faithful spouse, dedicated parent, good daughter or son, etc. What most struggle with, is when a "bad" person becomes a Christian. They may stumble over the thought of one like Son of Sam, convicted serial murderer, now brother in Christ. It is this mentality which is probably more deadly than any other. For if we believe that we are inherently good, then in our minds we don't really need a Savior. If we believe others are inherently beyond help or bad, then why bother speaking to them about Jesus. That’s why Paul's words in Romans 3:10-12 are so important, "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." No exceptions. We can't escape the words: none, not one, etc.

We come to an interesting section in Exodus 30:11-16 concerning the "Ransom Money". We read in 30:12-13, "When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half-a shekel..."." We read further in 30:14-15, "Everyone included among those numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves". Notice every one of the people had to be redeemed and the price was the exact same. There were no distinctions based on income, past sins, social status, religiosity, etc.

We are no different. We all come before God as sinners. We all need to pay the ransom price in order to be atoned for our sins. Though we like to make the designations of "good" people and "bad" people, this is not how God sees us. We are all sinners, and even one sin would be enough to keep us out of heaven. One sin doesn’t allow us to be in permanent fellowship with an infinitely Holy God. That’s why our payment, like that in Exodus 30, must also be the same. That is why we read in John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." We read further about this redemption for us in 1 Peter 1:18-19, "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by the tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

Where was this accomplished for us? On the cross, when Jesus said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Are there any exceptions? No, as we read in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." So who do our "good" but unsaved family and friends need? Jesus. Who do those "bad" people that we know, need? Jesus. Who do our Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, etc friends need? Jesus. It’s time we stop making arbitrary differences and realize that we are all sinners who stand guilty before a perfect God, and that there is only One Ransom, One method of Redemption, One way to heaven. That One answer is in the Person of Jesus Christ. May we boldly share the only message with others that has the power to save, Jesus.