Subtitle: "I would wake up in Heaven if I have a good life,”
Excerpt: Scott Adams, Dilbert creator, plans to convert to Christianity before dying of cancer. The article emphasizes salvation comes from accepting Christ, not good deeds.
Quote Source – Dilbert creator, Scott Adams
A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – Scott Adams is dying of terminal prostate cancer and has known his chances of recovery were “essentially zero” for some time. After numerous friends have witnessed to him, Mr. Adams stated publicly in his recent podcast, Real Coffee with Scott Adams, that he “plans to convert to Christianity before he dies.”
There are at least three issues that surface from Adams’ statement on his pending conversion from an atheist to a potential Christian.
Why Wait?
The first issue is … why has he waited so long? Why do those who have been convinced of the truth of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, choose to hold off until the last seconds on the human clock of life? Is it because God places so many imaginary demands on the life of a believer that the best time to accept Him is in the last moments of life? This is best exemplified by the conversion of the thief on the cross next to Jesus (Luke 23:42-43). Or, is it a fear that they will not be accepted by God, even though He is abundantly clear that all who come to Him will be forgiven of ALL of their sins (Psalm 103:12)? Whatever the reason for the delay, the truth is that we have no idea when our time will run out on Earth. We could die in our sleep tonight or be run over by a car on our way to work tomorrow. It is only our arrogance and stupidity that make us assume we know when our end is near. The time to accept Christ as one’s Lord and Savior is now.
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. - 2 Corinthians 6:2
Works-Based Salvation
The second issue is … Adams clearly assumes that a ticket to Heaven comes from being a good person. In his words, “living a ‘good life'” would result in salvation. Perhaps Adams sees a formal “conversion” to Christianity as an additional prerequisite, given his past atheistic beliefs. Adams stated that “lingering doubts” about the validity of the Christian faith would instantly disappear if he wakes up in Heaven, and if he doesn’t, then he is no better or worse off for becoming a Christian. Biblical Christians should immediately respond that this is a form of works-based salvation and is not valid. The Bible is clear that being a good person is not the path to Heaven (Romans 11:6). Salvation and Heaven are the result of God’s grace in providing a sacrifice for our sins through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). To rely on our behavior to earn a path to Heaven is an impossible task because the standards of success (to be without sin) are too high (Romans 3:23). A relationship with Christ on earth and entrance into Heaven comes from a willingness to freely accept Him as both Savior and Lord of our lives, and to repent of our sins, past, present, and future.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9
Secular Christianity
The third issue … When Adams makes the statement that a work-based salvation is the “dominant Christian theory,” he is sadly not far off from the truth. The problem is more of a definitional one. Secular Christians, unfamiliar with the Biblical text that undergirds their theology, are not Christians in the classical sense and, sadly, are not saved. In December of 2025, the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University (Barna) published a study based on two thousand adults. Fifty-three percent of self-identified Christians agreed that “A person who is generally good, or does enough good things for others, will earn a place in Heaven.” George Barna concluded the study by saying,
“The presence of unbiblical beliefs in the minds of most Christian-leaning Americans reminds us that most people are information collectors rather than biblically consistent followers of Christ. Americans are more determined to be comfortable than biblically right. That preference will produce profound eternal effects for each of us.”
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
Distributed by – BCWorldview.org
