The nerve! This guy claimed to be without sin, but was a big, fat liar…

I walked along the Redondo Beach pier with my daughters and we stopped at the Corndog on a Stick stand to give the owner a million bucks and ask about his eternal destiny. He answered that he’d go to heaven because he was a good person.

“So God will let you in?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said as he wiped down a counter distractedly.

“What do you think the Bible says?” I continued.

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t believe the Bible; it was written by men. In fact, I think that people who talk about the Bible are not good people. That book is just a bunch of opinions.” He cleaned and dusted but wouldn’t look me in the eye.

“I believe the Bible. Let me ask you a few questions. Have you ever lied?”

“No.”

“Really? Never?” Again he said no. “Ever stolen anything?”

“Nope. Never,” he stated flatly.

“Uh…lusted?”

“Never have.”

“How about using God’s name in vain? Have you ever said ‘Oh G-o-d!’ or ‘Jesus Christ?'”

“Never. I told you I was a great person!”

“If you sin just one time you will have to pay for that sin for all eternity in hell.”

“I don’t believe it. If you do what’s right and just live in harmony with everyone that’s all that matters.” He slid the million dollar bill back over the counter to me.

“No.You take it,” I insisted. “It’s yours to keep.”

“Don’t need it,” he protested. “Take it back.” I did. And I didn’t give him the good news either. Why waste my time with an arrogant, prideful corndog on a stick vendor? He had no need for a Savior because he was sinless.

As we walked away, my 6-year old spoke up, “He wasn’t a very good person, was he Daddy?”

*****

Was I right in withholding the gospel from this man? What would you have done?