The Many Few

So, you’re a Christian are you? I guess that’s a good thing. I mean, it’s a start. So I assume by “Christian” you mean you believe in Jesus? If so, how so? Do you believe He was/is the Messiah/Christ/Savior/God? Well, what does that mean? Do you even know? Why do you need a Savior? To save you from what? To save you from the world, to save you from Satan, to save you from yourself, to save you from death (stop me if I’m getting close)? And what is He saving you to?

I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but I assume if you believe He is saving you from the aforementioned, then He must be saving you to something not those things. Make sense? So, if you profess to be Christian, I assume that you believe you are saved from those things and to other things...whatever they might be? Is this the case?

(I know this is difficult, because we can’t converse back and forth. And so I’m forced to do a little dangerous assuming on my part. However, I have spoken with, and known enough Christians, and have been a Christian myself for over thirty years, and believe I know where many of you are coming from if you are a part of the church here in the West).

So, if you consider yourself “saved” (as almost every Christian does), how did you become saved? What does it even mean to be “saved”? It must be a big thing to be saved because I hear so many Christians asking others, “Are you saved?”, like that’s the most important thing in the world. Well, is it?

Again, since this is a one way conversation, let me make some basic assumptions, just for argument's sake. I assume you believe that before coming to faith in Jesus as God, you considered that you were a sinner going to hell. But now that you have placed your faith in Him, you believe you are not. Hence, you are “saved.” Is that basically what you believe? A lot of people do.

Now some people don’t believe in God. Any god. Others believe in a god, even if it’s not the God of the bible. And, of course, there are people who believe in the God of the bible. They might not agree to who He is or why He is, or what He wants or commands from us, but still, they believe in God. Now, interestingly enough, except for those who don’t believe in any god (and so I assume they don’t believe in the existence of an afterlife), most everyone else believes that there is a heaven. And most of those who believe in heaven also believe in hell. Yes, of course there are exceptions to all of this, but generally, would you agree with most what I just said?

If it is your contention that most of what I just said is basically true, then see if you agree with this also: Most people, except for the atheist, and maybe the agnostic, believe that the better, or “more good” you are in this life the better your chances are of going to heaven. AND worse, or “more evil” you are in this life the better your chances are of going to hell. Are we still in agreement? Even many people who profess to be Christian here in the US would agree with that. Some of those Christians may believe there might be many ways to God, but as long as you are trying to live a good life, and are sincere in your faith, you will probably end up in heaven (Joel Osteen comes to mind). Fewer still are the Christians who believe that only those who believe in Jesus as Christ, and Him alone, are going to heaven, and everyone else is going to hell. You might be one of these people. You would probably say it is not even a question of being good or bad...for man will always be bad...but rather it is faith and faith alone that one is saved unto heaven. Is that where you stand? Is that what you believe? Well, Christian, you’re wrong.

Have I got your attention? In the last US census (2010) close to 70% of the population claimed to be Christian. If that is true, then the term “Christian” has lost all meaning. Christianity is not a race or a citizenship that one is born into. My guess is that out of that 70%, the true number of actual Christians is closer to 30%. You might not agree with that. That’s fine. No one can really know for sure. Like I said, it’s just a guess. Whatever the number is, how many do you believe, as a percentage of the remaining percentage, are actually going to heaven? All of them? After all I did just refer to them as “actual” Christians. Or is it possible that some of those Christians aren’t going to heaven, even though they are “Christians”? I can hear you now: “Careful Tom. You are treading on really thin ice already.” Oh heck, I’ve come this far. I might as well just spill the beans. I would have gotten to it eventually anyway. Okay, here’s my guess: Of the 30% of the 70% of self-proclaimed Christians in the United States, about 5% will end up in eternity with the Lord in heaven. So if my math is correct ( and that’s a big IF) then the percentage of self-proclaimed Christians who live here in the US that will end up in heaven is 1.05%. You read that right. 1.05%! Crazy, right? “Ridiculous!”, you say. Yet, that’s what I believe. And I’ll even go a step further and say that Jesus already has a name for those 1.05%. He calls them “The Few”. Now trust me, I already know many of you do not agree with that number. You believe it’s way too low, don’t you? You think I’ve lost my marbles. Well, what’s your guess?

Before you guess however, let’s look at real numbers. 1.05% of the 70% of self-professed Christians is about 243,000 Americans. How does that sound? Now does that seem low to you? Okay, here’s my point in all of this. Jesus Himself says only a few people will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only a few. And He is talking about those who believe they are Christians: “Many will say to me Lord, Lord. Didn’t we do many works in your name?” Yet in the United states alone there are well over 200 million people alive today who believe they are going to heaven when they die. World wide, that number is over 2 billion! That’s hardly a few, wouldn’t you say? And I’m only talking about Christians.

So how about you? Are you confident you are part of the “few” who are going to heaven when Christ comes for His church? If your answer is yes, then how do you know? 200 million of your fellow citizens believe they too are part of the few.

Why are you part of the few and they aren’t (if you believe they are not)? They, like you, believe Jesus is God. They believe He was born of a virgin, and that He lived a life without sin, and that He died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day, just like you. Isn’t that the requirement to be saved? Well, is it? Isn’t that what you say you believe, and therefore you have salvation? Maybe you’re a protestant. Many protestants don’t consider Catholics to be true Christians. Most Christains don’t believe Mormons to be Christian, even though Mormons profess to believe the same things you do when it comes to Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection. So why are they not part of the few, and you are? Please don’t dismiss this question. It’s vital that you know the answer. Only the few will enter the kingdom of heaven! How are you so sure you are part of the few? Are you relying on your pastor’s teachings? So are they. Are you relying on the things you’ve read in books? So are they. Are you following the teachings and tradition of your church denomination? So are they? Does your understanding of Christ feel more correct to you? Them as well.

Please tell me you see what I’m getting at. You cannot put your faith, your life, your salvation in the hands of anyone else, but Christ. It doesn’t matter how much you like them! It doesn’t matter how many “fruits” you see in them. It doesn’t matter that they proclaim the name of Christ in their teachings or writings. We are talking about your forever place in eternity! Don’t let someone else...anyone else...tell you you are right with God; that your salvation is locked up and secure. The only one who can tell you that is Christ Himself. You must go to Him. You are required to go to Him. If you believe salvation is found in no one else, then why are you not going to Him first and always? Your pastor can’t save you. Your church can’t save you. Your favorite speaker can’t save you. ONLY the Word of God can save you (The bible). Salvation is found nowhere else. Christ is the Word of God. They are one in the same. When you spend time with the Word, you have spent time with God Himself. He is teaching you. He is talking to you as if He were standing in front of you. What He said “then” He says now. Nothing has changed. Nothing He has said has become void through the passage of time. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It’s the same Word (Christ) that was spoken and created the universe and all that is in it. It is that powerful! It’s the same Word that was spoken to all the prophets of Old. It’s the same Word that was spoken through all the New Testament writers, and it’s the same Word...the same Christ... for you today.

Only Christ the Word can change you. Only Christ the Word can save you. And only Christ the Word can keep you in your salvation. And only through the diligent study of the entirety of the Word can you know if you are part of the Few. Everyone believes they have it right. But only the Word of God knows. If only 1.05% of Christians are going to heaven, then the chances are good that you are being taught and influenced by the many. To be a part of the Few, you must get away from the many, and turn all your attention to the One.