I recently read the book, “How Good is Good Enough,” by Andy Stanley. It is a short, easy read, but contains a powerful message. The focus of the book is that no matter how hard we try, we can never be good enough to earn our way to Heaven. Andy Stanley takes a look at the problem with trying to be good enough. For instance, even if we believe we have been good, how do we know if we have been good enough to make it to Heaven?
In this book the author quotes a recent survey where people were asked if they believed in Heaven and Hell. “Almost 90 percent of Americans said they believe there is a Heaven, while only 30 percent believed in hell as a real place. And almost nobody who believed in hell thought they were going there.” (Stanley, pp.20-21) If that’s true then does that mean that just about everybody is really going to make it to Heaven? And if not, then how can we know for sure that we are one of those that will?
Andy Stanley points out other problems with simply hoping that we have been good enough and then lays out an alternative. He says that instead of trying to be good enough, we need to be forgiven and points to Jesus Christ as the way to receive that forgiveness.
This book provides some much needed answers for those who are striving to be good enough to earn their way to Heaven or for those who are not sure if they will go to Heaven when they die. It is not a deep theological book and is not really for mature Christians who are looking for spiritual formation, but would be a great book to give to those who are searching for answers. For that reason, I recommend this book.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I signed up for their “Blogging for Books” program and will occassionally be posting reviews of the books I receive.