I have talked with many people from various religious backgrounds as stating that they too are happy and fulfilled in what they are doing. Thus a person can be content and sincere yet sincerely wrong as these different religions can’t all be right even though to them it may feel or seem right.
Personally I couldn’t be happy as a Muslim in never really knowing whether I did enough or was good enough to make it to Paradise as faithfully reciting the creed, praying five times daily, giving alms, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and if able making the pilgrimage to Mecca. This must be so troublesome for some Muslims who see a jihadist martyrdom as the only real solution to resolve this tension which seems to be a dismal and fatalistic approach to faith and life.
From a biblical perspective this kind of heavenly salvation is not attained by personal merit and devotion as there is no one who is without sin and because of this I am not able to trust in my own righteousness which may look good in my own eyes but are filthy rags in the sight of God. In our finitude we are not able to comprehensively or exhaustibly measure ourselves and when placed on the heavenly scales we are nothing in comparison to a Holy God thus salvation doesn’t come by trusting ourselves and our works or deeds but rather it is simply received through the person and providential work of Christ as a merciful gift.
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Mt 11:28-29 Jesus said,
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
All rights reserved.
ESV Text Edition: 2007
Permission granted by David Woods for excerpts taken from the article on “ Muhammad and the Messiah” in the Christian Research Journal Vol.35/No.5/2012