Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. On December 4th, one of the Lord's saints, my precious mother went to be with Him. Mom was not a perfect person, but oh my, how she loved the Lord, and taught her children to do the same. A saint is not someone who has performed some miracle, but simply a sanctified one, or, one who has trusted Jesus Christ as their own personal savior. Sainthood is not assigned by some man on this earth, but can be claimed by all God's born again children. Please understand that not all saints act saintly. The Bible says in 2CO5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. This verse, along with many others, teaches me that righteousness cannot be gained or earned, but we are made righteous by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. What I do does not make me righteous, but what He has done makes me righteous, or a saint. When I accept His forgiveness and claim Him as my savior, I am then made a righteous saint of God. Here is a simple truth found in Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The righteousness that we are claiming to get us to heaven is not ours, but Christ's. If we claim Christ as our savior, then we should strive to live soberly and righteously in this present evil world, not to get us to heaven, but to bring glory to the one who gave himself for us; 1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 1 Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 1 Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. You cannot get to heaven without Him. You may as well just go ahead and accept His righteousness into your life and set out to serve Him for the remainder of your days.