Have you ever shown up for work, only to find the job had already been done? A man came to his pastor in great distress. He told him, “I’ve got to get some peace. What can I do to get peace and be saved?”

The wise pastor answered, “You’re too late.”

“What do you mean, it’s too late for me to do something to get saved?” The man was horrified.

“It’s too late because the work has already been done. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ did all the work necessary for you to be saved. He died in your place so if you put your trust in Him, you can have everlasting life.”

The pastor got his point across, and the man accepted Christ.

Most people think they have to have good works to be saved. But if that’s how God wanted it, He wouldn’t have bothered sending Jesus to die for our sins. Our works could never measure up to the perfection of Heaven. So Jesus died in our place to secure our pardon in the eyes of God.

Maybe you’re trusting your good works to get to Heaven. You think if you can be good enough, you’ll make it. You are hopeful in the end your good works will outweigh your sins. Friend, you’re showing up late for work. Two thousand years ago Christ’s blood paid for all your sins so you could be pardoned once and for all.