Everyone wants to go to heaven, so the question is always, ‘ What shall one do to inherit the kingdom of God?’ In this lesson, we will uncover what constitutes being saved and lost.
Luke 17:26-29
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. NIV
The Bible is clear about the events and circumstances surrounding the lost and the saved. It is also accurate in describing the number of the saved as compared to the lost. There were two big cities in the time of Abraham and only one man got saved. Saving one person out of ten is a big deal what more a whole city and then another. Noah was the only one saved out of a thousand-year generation of people. Science has it that numbers don’t lie and the Bible appears to share the same. To show it we will compare two key bible texts and see what we can find.
Matt 7:13-14
13 For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. NIV
Luke 13:24-25
24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ NIV
Going to hell is a lot cheaper than going to heaven. The reason is that you don’t have to struggle finding the way because the road is wide the gate is wide open people do not struggle to walk past. On the other hand it’s a bit complicated with the road to heaven as the road is narrow the gate is small and not in clear site it has to be located. Also you can see that there differs in terms of numbers.
The other point highlighted in these verses is the fact that sin has more room than the truth. How is that so you may ask? It is because those using the wide road and some who will use the narrow but fail to make it will be counted as one. When it comes to matters of faith the majority is not right. Consider the following verse.
Rev 3:15-17
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. NIV
When God declares a law it can only mean one thing. Any form of modification made to it is from the devil. That is why God said a man and a woman shall be joined together but today because the devil has more room and options he has devised various alternatives to it in order to lure God’s people to his side. Today a man can even decide to form a union with a pet among other things.
Rom 9:27
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. NIV
At this point, it’s also significant to bring the character Jesus into the picture. As a human being, he had more perception than any other person. Several times Christ wasn’t easily swayed by people whom the Jews had commended to him. Starting with Judas Iscariot whom the disciples admired he was not persuaded. To the Roman centurion who had built for them a temple he demanded faith and to the rich young ruler who had helped the community he asked from him a thing that made him walk away. All Jesus wants is a heart completely surrendered to his will, no more and no less.
Luke 18:25-26
25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” NIV
There is a controversy surrounding us, a battle between good and evil unless we are aware that it means we are compromised and we risk arriving at the narrow door and failing to enter. There is right and wrong in the food we eat, the fashion consumed, the education pursued, the entertainment, and the social, environmental, political and economic life. Unless we can separate the things of God and expose that of Satan there is no hope for us. The sad part is that after all the struggle you get counted as unworthy. It would be better if you hadn’t joined the narrow travellers altogether and gained one thing, instead you lost both heaven and the world.
John 10:7-9
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. NIV
We all have to pass through Master Jesus to be deemed worthy to inherit the kingdom of God or not. The question stands, will he be worn over by the life that you are leading or like the rich young ruler you still lack that one thing? Do not let that one thing cost you eternal life. Surrender all to Jesus today, and he will take away all your sins and grant you everlasting life.
God bless you as you scan through your life and let go of deeds he does not require of you. See you in the next lesson.
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