How Few will be Saved?

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” -Matthew 7:13,14. Bold type added to emphasize.

These opening theme verses are the basis for a number of phrases about following, “the straight and narrow”; generally meaning the morally right way as viewed by most, but not always said with religious application. Referencing the “straight and narrow” is fairly common, but what is meant by the many or few is virtually never addressed.

When Jesus spoke the words of these verses, He of course was talking about the eternal fate of men, and nothing lesser (see also Luke 13:23,24). But the separation issue of how many actually end up eternally lost or how few are eternally saved is largely ignored, and it's as if the Lord changed His mind and now receives almost everyone into Heaven! If you listen to or read accounts of the deceased, no one's acknowledging anything but good for them.

It's so important for Christians NOT to give in to such popular “changes” in God's policy, which really are no changes, just wishful thinking. The reality of Hell will continue whether people want to believe it or not, and acknowledging it could lead to a healthy fear of the Lord that will SAVE some of those lost.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” -Matthew 10:28.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” -Proverbs 1:7.

The Bible doesn't directly tell us how many are the few that will be saved; there aren't any percentages written down to go by, and that's probably because from one area to the next they would be different. Also, as the time of judgment approaches it's logical to assume that fewer and fewer numbers would be getting saved; scripture says there will be a falling away, instead;

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first...” -2 Thessalonians 2:3A.

So let's begin getting down to some numbers. In Pastor Howard Pittman's 1980 book, Placebo, he recounts that during the time of his near death experience the Lord showed him that 2,000 had died, but only 50 had been saved-that's just 2.5%! He made sure to tell us that the Lord didn't show him how to apply that percentage beyond his experience. Yet I also recall watching a video from a year ago that quoted 2 pastors prior to 1950 relating the same numbers, 3-5%. Unfortuneatly, I didn't keep any info on this video or the pastors-sorry! But what's most important is what the Bible shows us about the “few” or the “many,” and we're getting to that now...

Our first great example comes from the Flood of Noah (Genesis 6-8), where only 8 people were saved; Noah, his 3 sons, and their 4 wives. What we don't know is earth's population at the time, after about 1,650 years of history. We saw 2 different estimates for numbers, the low one starting at 750 million, the high one went to 17 billion! We cannot know for sure, but high numbers are justified. Yet even if you took the population down to just 8 million for argument's sake, you would see the incredibly LOW percentage of those being saved.

The second comparison comes from Sodom & Gomorrah and their surrounding cities (Genesis 18, 19); these first 2 are the prime comparisons of judgment Jesus cited in Luke 17:26-30. Again, no population is given, but God promised to spare this region if He found just 10 righteous people in it. One estimate I saw put the population at about 750,00, but we can't know. IF the Lord had found just 10 righteous souls there, it was the price for avoiding judgment, not bringing it. And IF the population was only 100,000, 10 would represent one hundreth of 1% (0.0001). In the end, how many righteous souls did God find there? Perhaps only one, Lot; for the behavior of Lot's family doesn't look good.

A third example comes from 1 Kings 19:18, as Elijah was fleeing from Queen Jezebel;

“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal...”

There were accounted to be 7,000 left in Israel that remained true to their God, and they were scattered due to the persecution from Jezebel; this could well be a thousand to one ratio against, if the population was about 7 million. We know Israel's numbers were 3-4 million when leaving Egypt. I won't count Elijah's showdown with the 850 prophets of Baal, and the Groves, because he asked for it.

Number 4 is from 1 Kings 22, with 400 false prophets versus God's ONE, Micaiah.

Example 5 is found in Jeremiah 5:1 that reads;

“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” Jerusalem was a city of about 50,000, and God shows mercy here.

We find likewise example 6 in Ezekiel, where God seeks just one righteous man among His people as a reason to have mercy, and withhold His wrath. This would have been from the Israelite captives that had been taken that were with Ezekiel, likely thousands, but there's no exact ratio.

“The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.” -Ezekiel 22:29-31.

Even in the New Testament there's an example (#7) to consider, and here we find in Acts 1:15 we find about 120 disciples gathered in the upper room waiting for the Holy Spirit to fall upon them, as instructed; ONLY 120? After 3.5 years of dynamic ministry in the Palestine area, there's only a record of 120 who were dedicated enough to lay all aside, and wait for the promise of more;

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” -Luke 24:49.

We can speculate that if Jesus ministered to 120,000 during those years (Jerusalem being about 60,000), that's one-tenth of one percent (0.001) responding favorably. I'm not saying only 120 truly received Jesus, but it's the number we have for an example. It is true, however, that most took the miracles they wanted from Jesus without giving Him their lives.

“Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:” -Matthew 11:20.

“Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” -John 6:26.

“But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:” -John 12:37.

The point of this message is that we're closing in on Jesus' return, and the judgment of God, and when He says few will be saved, He means VERY few! We must remember this, and warn every man (Colossians 1:28) while there is time, and STOP taking Jesus' death for our sins for granted; a death which was meant to save us from God's wrath in Hell, granting eternity in glory with Him.

“... the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments...” -from Luke 16:22,23.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” -1 Corinthians 10:12.

I also have a YouTube video at https://youtu.be/OqgvupAnRF0 and a video Short at https://youtube.com/shorts/K0AbOCvbINU?feature=share.

Prescription for Saving Faith

 "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” -Matthew 3:8.

There's been a tremendous moral decay in our times that few would deny, yet religion flourishes, and churches are full; there's a main missing element we're not applying in God's prescription for true salvation.

That element is commonly known, but we're using inferior ingredients to manufacture it, not following the guidelines God gave us. Why are we so careful about the production of goods we buy for loved ones, but lackluster over the right spiritual elements to redeem our souls?

Jesus gave us a saving prescription we should follow, printed here from Mark 2:17 which says;

“...Jesus...saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

That missing element revolves around the concept of repentance, a term many know but few practice as God means it; today the key part of this prescription has been assembled with inferior, substituted ingredients, making it a “repentance” in name only.

Jesus illustrates the key part of this concept by comparing it with sickness, and doctors; that when we believe ourselves to be in good health, we won't seek medical attention; similarly, if we think we're good people in God's eyes, we'll be blind to our sin, and won't seek genuine repentance; we must see that we're SICK, and in need of treatment.

We should already KNOW that all have sinned, and no one is good in God's eyes but himself (Mark 10:17); we must help people see their actual spiritual state before God, that they are separated from Him by their sins, need the reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) won by Jesus on the cross. We cannot expect meaningful repentance without this realization.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.” -Isaiah 58:1,2. Bold type is added for application.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” -Romans 3:10,23.

God's given us a way of showing others that they really aren't good, helping them find their way to repentance and the remission of sins, but it's seldom employed. Just thinking of Jesus' brutal sacrifice on the cross should tell us God is deadly serious about sin, but there seems to be little emphasis on the sin problem when a speaker is trying to lead someone to Christ; generally, it's the sinner's self-worth that's promoted in the presentation, and we may hear things like, “Jesus/God loves you” or “God has a plan for your life” or “You're special to God” or “God has a wonderful gift (eternal life) for you.”

Being sinners by nature is also diminished and considered as, “Nobody's perfect” or “Everyone makes mistakes”; “There's good in everyone,” or “You're not that bad.” The individual is often treated like he's been a child of God all along, when it only comes by adoption (Romans 8:15), and BEGINS with repentance and the remission of sins (Luke 24:47); how can people repent of evil in their lives if

they're made to feel so good about the standing they have with God already? Our Lord cannot tolerate ANY sin in His presence; we need to stand in the righteousness of Christ.

“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.” -2 Corinthians 5:21.

The Bible says the knowledge of sin comes by the LAW (Romans 3:20), and God uses the Ten commandments (Mark 10:17-22) to show all of us how we've fallen short of His standards; giving us the example of the rich young ruler found in the gospels. Have we lied? Have we ever stolen? Have we honored our parents? The prospective new convert really needs time to reflect on his/her sins, and how they've fallen in view of God's commandments. Older, alleged converts may need this, too.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” -2 Corinthians 13:5A.

The term repent may still be used at times, but if sin is presented as a light thing, can true & full repentance actually be embraced? When SIN is diagnosed, it's a terminal disease; but the patient may search for a second opinion that tells him it's just a light head cold, and nothing more. The patient still believes there is some good in him, never fully repenting and yielding to the Lordship of Jesus, but trusts rather in his own decisions and good works.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” -Romans 6:23.

“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” -James 1:15.

“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” -Romans 9:16.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”, but I fear sometimes it's implied that we were already accepted by God while in our sins, which isn't true; God accepts no man's person (Galatians 2:6), and we see in Romans 5:9 it's only through Jesus' blood we'll be saved from wrath through Him.

If we confess and forsake our sins, we'll receive God's mercy (Proverbs 28:13); if we say we have not sinned, we make out Jesus to be a liar, and His Word is not in us (1 John 1:10)! Jesus is the ONLY cure for the terminal disease of sin we're infected with, so take time to be sure you & your loved ones are walking in the full light of God's Word (John 3:21), holding nothing back.

“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” -Proverbs 30:12.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” -Matthew 7:21-23.

I also have a Youtube video on this subject at https://youtu.be/fQdi1ItvhJk and a video Short at https://youtube.com/shorts/auA0E91gtUE?feature=share.

God's Time to Laugh

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” -Ecclesiastes 3:1,4.

Laughter is a precious gift from God, but there is a time and place for it. I myself have experienced being comforted by laughter during grief, but I've also shamefully made light of others' grief through it. Earlier in my life I was even called a clown, or joker, and often people would ask me to make them laugh! Yet Jesus said we'll give an account for every idle word we speak, and I do thank God for His grace and forgiveness while growing in Him.

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” -Matthew 12:36,37.

How can we be taken seriously if we're constantly joking, and making light of things? Pastors and teachers in churches do this often, almost giving “stand up comedy” routines in an effort to make the people FEEL GOOD about themselves and the service; scripture says in our day that men will be “ lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4), and if these leaders seek to please men, then they're no longer the servants of Christ.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” -Galatians 1:10.

The Bible and its message clearly isn't meant to be humorous, and though it's understandable that we may smile at certain accounts in it, I would still contend there's nothing in scripture put there for the purpose of laughter. The destruction of the world in the flood isn't funny; God's repeated judgments, & chastenings of His children aren't funny (Hebrews 12:5-11); Jesus' awful suffering through the cross never makes me laugh, neither does the thought of eternity in Hell for most of mankind.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” -Matthew 10:28.

Numerous scriptures can apply to the “limits of laughter” being discussed here, but it appears more directly in Ephesians 5 as part of a larger passage (Ephesians 5:3-11), listing foolish talking and jesting as practices unbecoming to saints, and are part of a list which includes fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness; declaring that such practicing these have no inheritance in the kingdom of God!

God isn't in favor of so-called “Christian comedy”, by which I mean it to describe the deliberate, excessive use of humor when preaching the gospel of Jesus; here are some of the problem points I see in “Christian comedy”;

First, it directly disregards the Bible's instruction against it found in Ephesians 5:3&4.

Secondly, there's NO Bible teaching or examples promoting it.

Third, in Ephesians 5:16 we're told to redeem the time; making the best use of it; we should be learning more than laughing.

Point 4 is that by promoting comedy we're becoming a friend of the world, and are therefore God's enemy. Jesus said the world hated Him because He testified that its works are evil, and said the world would hate us (John 15:18,19), as well.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. -James 4:4.

“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” -John 7:7.

Number 5 is that almost without exception, those using humor will add false testimony (Proverbs 30:6) to God's Word in trying to get laughs; we have to serve God in TRUTH (John 4:24.)

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” -1 Corinthians 2:17.

And my last point #6 is that humor injected into the message greatly diminishes the need and purpose of the cross; many preachers like to use levity to “break up” or soften the heavier messages regarding sin-they want people to “feel good” about themselves, and lay aside any genuine conviction that may last.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” -1 Corinthians 2:2.

All of the world needs salvation through Jesus Christ, and this matter is indescribably serious. When my Bible study teacher referred to Jesus as a FUN GUY, I recalled a descriptive prophecy of Jesus that was quite contrary to what my teacher said in Isaiah 53:3,4 which says, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

Let us praise God for His gift of laughter, but PRAY that the anointing we receive (1 John 2:27) of God will prevail in truth to lead us into the right time and place for expressions done in this way.

“Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” -Ecclesiastes 7:3,4.

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” -Romans 12:15

I also have a YouTube video at https://youtu.be/9Sqt5LUdI6Q and a video Short at https://youtube.com/shorts/ANfoCBbehC4?feature=share

What's Next After Taking Our Lives?

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32.

It's always a tragedy when a loved one dies unexpectedly, and much more so if they've taken their own life, for it leaves those remaining with questions, and self-blame. What had gone wrong? Life isn't supposed to end this way, is it?

And so we pray, seeking comfort for the bereaved, and regarding the deceased with pity for the unknown struggle they could not overcome. Yet there remains one burning question for many, which is the thought of where they will end up in eternity? On one hand, ending your own life couldn't be what God wants; but on the other hand, would the Almighty punish that person by adding eternal suffering to the misery they'd already endured?

We must rely on the Bible for our answers; it will reveal the true mind of God, and provide all we need in any situation; “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” -John 17:17.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” -2 Timothy 3:16,17.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” -2 Timothy 2:15.

After the Lord had snapped me out of my own depressed thoughts for ending my life (I was seriously planning it), the following became my verse to stand against such thoughts in the future;

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” -Hebrews 9:27.

It goes without saying that if our time to die is appointed, then GOD appointed it! Therefore if I take my own life, I've rebelled against God, and put myself in His place to appoint my time- I clearly would not be in right relationship with my creator and judge; this isn't a position we want to be in.

But it was still a few more years until I gave this subject the Biblical study it deserved, and the following results are shared here in this article. The conclusion isn't really surprising, but it's solidly based on God's Holy Word.

The first application is obviously from the Ten Commandments; “Thou shalt not kill” is found in both Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17, it is the 6^th commandment; God just doesn't treat suicide differently from other types of killing, so why should we? Additionally, self-termination is a premeditated murder, which is the worst kind (Deuteronomy 19:11-13).

Next, I found there were 5 examples of self-termination in scripture, and none of these men were in right relationship with God. The first is King Saul, and the second his armor bearer in the same passage of 1 Samuel 31:3-6; each fell on their swords to avoid being abused by the enemy.

Thirdly, we have Ahithophel, a highly esteemed counsellor who rebelled with Absalom against God's anointed King David; at one point when he saw his counsel wouldn't be taken, he hanged himself (2 Samuel 17:23).

Next we have the short-lived King Zimri as the fourth; Zimri had killed the rightful King Elah and reigned for just 7 days; when the people of the land turned against him, and when he saw that all was lost he burned down his residence on top of himself. See 1 Kings 16:18, whole story v. 8-20.

The fifth and last one is Judas Iscariot, who betrayed our Lord; his demise is found in Matthew 27:3-5. As you probably know, Judas betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver, but later looked to undo this betrayal-and failed. He finally chose to hang himself, and came to a gruesome end (Acts 1:18).

Yet I believe in the book of JOB we find a solid testimony against suicide, for I doubt there was ever a man in history who suffered like he did (chapters 1&2); first it came by the loss of his children and possessions, then his health, but insult to injury was heaped upon him by his wife & friends, from whom he should have been comforted (Job 16:1-3).

But Job was in right relationship with God, as scripture testifies in Job 1:1;

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” See also 2:3 for God's direct commendation!

JOB longed for death just as anyone would, but was submitted to the Lord, and waited for the time God appointed. Read these testimonies given through Job during this unspeakable crisis;

“Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!” - Job 6:8,9.

“O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” -Job 14:13,14.

You can well see from these verses Job's longing for God's appointed time; praying for it, & waiting.

We know that God is merciful to those who cry out to Him, but not so to those who insist upon controlling their own lives, doing it their way, and not submitting to Him. I've found that for a person to take his/her own life broadly indicates they're NOT in right relationship with God, and had a desperate need for Jesus' atoning work within-which it will be too late for after death.

Be patient, quick to hear, and slow to speak (James 1:19,20) with those who've been bereaved by a loved one who ended life; but if you need speak they must hear the truth; and not false words of comfort like a false prophet would give (Jeremiah 6:13,14). One who kills is a murderer, and after dying there's no more opportunity for forgiveness.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;...murders...and such like: of the which I tell you...they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” -from Galatians 5:19-21.

“...and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” -from 1 John 3:15.

Here is a link to the YouTube video https://youtu.be/3hPZ-GogPyc and video Short https://youtube.com/shorts/uNyopT9vyDE?feature=share that I also did on this subject.