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After a battle with cancer, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip, Scott Adams, passed away yesterday (January 13 2026). He was 68 years old. He had recently been known as a writer and political commentator. In a January 4 broadcast, he announced that he planned to convert to Christianity because the risk/reward prospects were in favor of converting at the end of his life. In other words, he reckoned that he had nothing to lose by converting.

However, when he made that proclamation, he said that he was not going to convert at that time. He said that he won’t spend much time in that phase (Christian belief) so the audience shouldn’t expect it to, “happen today.” You can listen to his entire statement in this YouTube broadcast linked --> here <-- (beginning at the 12:00 mark on the video).

That statement atarted many conversations among Christians. Some wondered if it was possible to become a follower of Christ simply because it seemed like a good gamble. A measured logical calculation. Some made observations about the confusing things that he said about his belief. He said that he did not have to say anything in advance and that the prevailing Christian theory is tied to living a good life.

As a pastor, I found the statement encouraging, but only because it appeared to be a first step toward faith. It did not strike me as a landing point of belief.

It also struck me as a statement that could result in keeping unbelievers from embracing true faith. The average man-on-the-street may reckon, like Scott, that they can wait until the last possible second to do/say something that leads to a last-minute conversion, thus gaining them entry into God’s presence without having to spend any appreciable time as a professing Christian.

That type of reconciliation with God was true for the thief on the cross. However, his conversion to belief was not a calculated life plan – it was a sudden mind-blowing out-loud realization that he was dying next to the Son of God himself.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43 ESV)

Let’s review the simplicity of the gospel as preached by Jesus himself:

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)

There are two essential elements of entering into the Christian faith: repentance and belief. The Christian life certainly entails more than that (being a disciple and persisting until the end, for example), but it is not less than that. In Scott Adams’ January 4th statement, he did not mention repentance and did not claim to be a believer.

It appeared, however, that he was drawing near. If we had been praying and sharing Jesus with someone who was dying, and they made a similar profession, we would be encouraged. The narrative of a famous figure drawing near to the faith fits the cultural trend of thinkers and public figures making positive statements about Christianity. Therefore, it was not surprising that many Christians found some joy in his words from January 4.

Then the cancer took Scott’s mortal life yesterday. If you were watching social media, you may have been led to believe that he called upon Jesus to be his lord and savior prior to his passing. In reality, those words were on a statement, written by Scott and read by his former wife. The statement was to be read after his death.

The statement was written by Scott on January 1. Three days before his January 4 public announcement that he intended to convert at some point in the future, Scott  wrote this letter. It reads, in relevant part:

A Final Message From Scott Adams
If you are reading this, things did not go well for me. I have a few things to say before I go. My body failed before my brain. I am of sound mind as I write this, January 1st, 2026. If you wonder about any of my choices for my estate, or anything else, please know I am free of any coercion or inappropriate influence of any sort. I promise. Next, many of my Christian friends have asked me to find Jesus before I go. I'm not a believer, but I have to admit the risk-reward calculation for doing so looks attractive. So, here I go: I accept Jesus Christ as my lord and savior, and I look forward to spending an eternity with him. The part about me not being a believer should be quickly resolved if I wake up in heaven. I won't need any more convincing than that. And I hope I am still qualified for entry. With your permission, I'd like to explain something about my life. (afterward, Mr. Adams describes his life and the books he had authored)

The troubling part of this memorial letter is that he claims not to be a believer, then says that he accepts Jesus as lord and savior. Again, there are two simple ingredients to the gospel:

(1) repentance, and
(2) belief.

I have heard nothing about what Scott experienced before he passed away. Did he follow up on his promise to convert? Did he understand that true conversion requires the two essential elements found in Jesus’ message? Before he breathed his last, did he feel the weight of a life lived in unbelief and truly repent before a holy and longsuffering God? Did he ever become a believer?

We knew he was getting close. Without further information, we don’t know if it happened. My soul hopes that he did. I pray that all come to a saving faith. 

Pray for his family and continue to tell the world of the lifesaving offer of salvation that Jesus purchased with his own blood. If you are on the fence about salvation, then do not follow Scott’s example – let there be no delay - repent and believe! We are not promised tomorrow.