Are There Few?

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When Christ was asked, “Are there few that be saved?” (Lk 13:23), He didn’t answer directly; perhaps the question is too significant to answer with a simplistic Yes or No.

What is a reasonable estimate of how many will make it to Heaven? If it’s 7 out of 10 we might not panic, figuring we’re better than most. But if it’s more like 1 in 10,000 … well that’s a wake-up call to make our election sure (2Pe 1:10), to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Php 2:12)

Christ’s reply is not the least bit comforting: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Lk 13:24) The implication is very few will make it to Heaven (Mt 7:14); many, thinking they have a personal relationship with Christ (Lk 13:25-26), will be turned away, much to their own consternation and horror. (27-28) Even many who call Christ Lord and think they’re doing great work for Him will be cast out because they didn’t do God’s will; He never knew them. (Mt 7:21-23)

Christ is warning us to diligently seek salvation, to earnestly lay hold on eternal life with all our might (1Ti 6:12) and ensure beyond any doubt that our lives reflect the reality of divine salvation. (He 6:9) It’s exactly what we’d expect Him to say when the odds we’ll make it are slim to none if we’re the least bit negligent. (He 2:3) He’s telling us to pursue Him and eternal life as our top priority, to leave no stone unturned, leaving nothing to chance, and to let nothing get in our way or distract us. (Mt 18:8)

Does God give us any further indication that the odds any particular soul is safe are extremely slim? Consider the ante-diluvian population, where only eight souls were saved (1Pe 3:20) out of perhaps 100 billion. In this present age, the remnant is evidently so small John says the whole world lies in wickedness (1Jn 5:19); the percentage is evidently negligible, dust on the scales of humanity.

Could it be that most people will spend their entire lives and never know a single soul that’s actually going to Heaven? That even the most devoted among us may only encounter a tiny handful of saints?

Of course, we dare not claim to know for sure who’s in or out; thankfully, only God knows the heart. But we should be willing to pursue Heaven all on our own, undaunted even if no one else seems to care or have any clue about it. We’re only responsible for making our own election sure. Since God Himself tells us to do so (Is 55:6-7), we should, confident He will show us the way. (He 11:6)

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