As the time approaches for final exams, there are various feelings students may have. The confident ones are those who know that they will do well. Then there are those who feel they have a good chance to do well if they studied what will be on the test. Then there are those who are praying for a miracle.

I found some interesting parallels in the way students approach finals and their view of God’s big final. In my discussions of spiritual issues with students, most believe in God in some form. Of the ones who did, several responses were given in regards to the criteria for one to enter heaven.

The most common response was, “I’m not a bad person,” and then listed their good deeds.

The basis for this view is that if one’s good deeds outweighs their bad deeds, then they will pass the test. If this is true, one needs to know how many is enough. One would hate to be short one good deed upon graduation.

The second most common response I found is similar to the first, but with a different basis. “I’m not as bad as some people.”

The standard of measurement is not against oneself but in comparison to others. Mankind is plotted on some sort of a bell curve. Again one needs to know where the cutoff point is.

The third response was not as frequent. “Everyone is going to heaven.”

With this view, there is no standard of big final. If this is true, then one should hope they don’t have Hitler or Stalin for neighbors.

The final response that I came across was the one who recognized their helplessness to pass the big final. The standard they used is found in the New Testament. Stated that the person who keeps every law of God, but makes one little slip, is just as guilty as the person who has broken every law there is.

For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us. Their answer centers on the acceptance of this free gift by placing their trust in who Jesus Christ is and His death on the cross for the payment of their sin.

I myself hold to this final position. Each is entitled to their own viewpoint. But when the big final arrives there will only be one correct answer.

Jim Burrows

former director

Campus Crusade for Christ