So you say that a better life after this life is based on good works now. Given our society today, you should be commended for living a good moral life where your good deeds out weigh the bad deeds. But, by whose standard(s) are you judging yourself?
Every organized religion has different rules by which to get to a better beyond. Just ask any Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Christian, New Ager, or anyone who does not fall into these broad categories and you will receive different answers every time. Obviously, we must go to a source that has past the test of time, prophecies, critics, and accuracy. The source we will look at is the Bible.
Let's first look at what Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like. And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, ... Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, ... therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in (heaven) here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (Matthew 22) So what is the point of this parable? Just check out the underlined words above and read the following. "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
You may say that was a long hard point to prove. Well, lets get more direct then. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:4-9) Yeah, but I still want to do good works or at least try to do the work of God. The Bible says, Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him (Jesus) whom He (God) sent." (John 6:28-29) So you are saying that I must place my belief or for better words total faith and trust in Jesus Christ for a better beyond. Bingo!!! Again the Bible says, even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. (Romans 3:22) How then can I place my trust in Jesus? You can place your trust in Jesus and become a new person by sincerely praying in your own words to God asking Jesus to come into your life!
So what about good works? Relax! The Bible says, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) In essence, if we have placed our trust in Jesus Christ, the love of God will flow out from us in the form of good deeds towards others! No one is perfect, but a follower of Jesus Christ will recognize other peoples' needs and will help them out. Finally, God will reward you for the good works that you have done. The Bible says, For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:10)