You Can't Work Towards Grace

One of the common answers to the question "Are you going to Heaven?" would be something along the lines of "Yes, because I am a good person." So often people think by being good, doing good things that they will make it to heaven. Sadly though they are wrong.
Grace is the only way to get through those pearly gates. By the grace of God, which He offers freely, your name can be written in the book of life. You can live eternally in heaven one day!

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9

How awesome is that?! Truly there is no way we could ever work our way to righteousness because no matter how hard we try, even the best of us sin. It may be in your heart, something only between you and God, or it may be something huge, that our earthly law penalizes with prison. But God offers grace to everyone. To Him all sin, big or small, it is black and white, there is no gray area.

As it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, there is not even one." ~Romans 3:10-12

Though while works do not get anyone admittance into heaven, not even Christians, as believers under grace we should endeavor to do works for the Lord.

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?...For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:20,26

Because just as you would thank someone who gives you any kind of gift, we should show our gratitude for His awesome gift of salvation, which was purchased for us at the ultimate price, through the death of His Son.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Romans 5:8-9

The precious blood of Jesus Christ that saved us from our sin should also be what motivates us to do works for Him. Not because we need to for us to enter heaven, but because we want to in our love for Him and His sacrifice.