**How to Go Home Justfied*

        In Luke 18, Jesus gave us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Both went to the temple area to pray. The Pharisee was convinced of his own righteousness and despised everyone else; he told God all the good deeds he'd been doing. But the tax collector simply beat his breast and prayed humbly, "O God, be merciful to me a sinner." Jesus pointed out that the latter went home justified, not the former. The lesson the Lord gave was "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."         
         By the same token, if we see ourselves as great sinners before God in need of his mercy, we would be saved. But if we think we are really good people deserving to go to heaven, we would be greatly disappointed. As for those who fall between these two extremes, they could go either way. When the soul is at stake, always play it safe.