The apostle Paul's answer is not what most people expect to read or hear. Paul writes to the Ephesians that our salvation is not a matter of do but done.
Take another look at Ephesians 2:8-9. Note that we are saved by:
Grace alone through
Faith alone in
Jesus Christ alone without any
Works of my own
Even the good works we might do in order to try and impress God are not our own. Paul writes that God prepared those good works in advance for us to do. Such works flow from a heart filled with gratitude for God's free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus.
This is good news! Eternity is not dependent on heeding the advice from Oprah's latest self-help guru or doing an extreme makeover upon yourself so that you meet the expectations of our post-Christian world. Trust Christ Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. He offers His gift without strings attached. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Good news indeed!
