"I don't believe in your doctrine," said a sailor to a servant of Christ. "My opinion is that if a man does the best he can it will be all, right with him in the end.”
"And is that the only way by which a sinner can get to heaven?”
"I believe so and don't you think that it is a good way?”
"Do you expect to get there?”
"Of course I do.”
"How many times have you used profane language since you spoke to me?”
"Oh, well, I have got into that habit, but I mean to give it up.”
"And are you sure that you are able?”
"Certainly.”
"And is that the only sin you are guilty of?”
"Oh, no; I am not one of those people who pretend to be perfect.”
"Then, according to your own admission, you have not done the best you could; if that is the only way of getting to heaven, you have not the slightest chance of ever being there."
The sailor's mouth was stopped, for the time being, at least.
Dear reader, do you expect to be saved by "doing your best"? If so, better be undeceived now than find out when too late that this is not God's way of salvation.
What is the use of such a supposition as, "If a man does the best he can," when God's Holy Word distinctly and emphatically asserts that no one has ever done so? Listen to the voice of God: "They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Psa. 14:33They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Psalm 14:3).
You know right well, dear reader, that you have again and again done what you should not have done, and omitted to do what you should have done. You don't "pretend to be perfect." But let me remind you that one sin is sufficient to condemn you. You have committed thousands! "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
The "best" that you can do is to admit that you are a helpless, guilty sinner, unable to do a single good act to merit God's forgiveness. When you see yourself a sinner, lost, ruined, and condemned, you will be anxious to learn what the Lord Jesus Christ did to save you from hell. When by the eye of faith you see that "everything was fully done," you will cease talking about your "doing," and get occupied with His finished work.