Are There Few?

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

The question is indeed fascinating, seeking a ball-park percentage of how many people will ultimately find eternal life. Why is this relevant? If the percentage is relatively high, say 7 or 8 out of 10, we might relax and coast a bit, thinking as long as we’re better than those around us, we’re good to go. But if the odds are 1 in 10,000 it’s another matter entirely, that’s a wake-up call to diligently make our election sure (2Pe 1:10), to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Php 2:12)

Christ’s reply is indeed sobering: “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 from the remaining context is that very few will make it to Heaven; many, thinking they have a personal relationship with Christ (25-26), will be turned away, much to their own surprise, consternation and horror. (27-28) Even many who call Christ Lord and think they’re doing great things 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 (1Ti 6:12) and ensure our lives reflect what accompanies salvation. (He 6:9) It’s exactly what we’d expect Him to say if the odds we’ll make it — if we’re the least bit careless or nonchalant about it — are slim to none. He’s telling us to pursue Him and eternal life as our top priority, to let nothing stand in our way. (Mt 18:8)

Does God give us any indication elsewhere in scripture that the odds any random soul is eternally safe are extremely slim? Consider the ante-diluvian population, which may very well have exceeded 100 billion at the time of the Great Flood, of which only eight souls were saved. (1Pe 3:20) The remnant of the elect is evidently so small even in this present age John tells us the whole world is immersed in wickedness (1Jn 5:19); the percentage of the elect is evidently negligible, dust on the scale of humanity.

Could it actually be that most people will spend their entire lives and never know a single soul that’s truly going to Heaven? That even the most fervently religious may only get to meet a tiny handful of saints? Though we’re never given the precise percentage, it’s evidently like comparing .0001% with .000001%, tiny vs very tiny.

Of course, we dare not claim to know for sure who’s in or out; only God knows the heart; but we should evidently be willing to pursue Heaven all on our own if need be, not intimidated or dissuaded if no one else seems to feel the urgency, or if we aren’t getting any meaningful help from others along the way. We’re only responsible for making our own election sure. Since God Himself tells us to do so (Is 55:6-7), we can count on Him to show us the way. (He 11:6)

articles  ♦  blog