Q: As an evangelical born again Christian I struggle with the thought that, considering the immensity of Christ`s sacrifice of suffering and death, that apparently only a very small minority of mankind are on their way to heaven. Some theologians get around this by saying that many souls will call upon the Lord in their dying breath and be saved. No doubt there will be some such eleventh hour conversions. But many? I know that there is some anecdotal evidence but little if any scriptural evidence that this is common. What do you think?
A: The first thing to look at is the fact that you came to Christ yourself. Despite whatever obstacles, doubts, questions, distractions and so forth that your own life experience presented, it all worked together to bring you to faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, I would suggest to you to extend that same possibility to each individual in the world. The Bible is clear in telling us that "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)." God doesn't want anybody to perish and face an eternity separated from Him. Hell was created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). It was not prepared for mankind. However, if someone remains dead to God in their sins what else is there for God to do them but cast them into eternal fire?
Furthermore, we read in the Bible that "since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Romans 1:20)." Mankind is without excuse when it comes to denying God and, ultimately, the salvation offered in Jesus Christ. How often do you hear unbelievers say "there is no God"? This passage affirms that these people have clearly denied the evidence that God has presented to them in the world, yet they refuse to respond to it. It is not that they don't believe in God, it is that they are looking for a god that justifies their own worldview. Others will deny God by asking, "If there was a God why is there so much suffering in the world?" The simple answer to that question is that we live in a sin cursed world where even the "creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Romans 8:22)." Unbelievers simply don't want the truth.
However, as odd as this may sound, you should be encouraged by what you see going on around you. The Bible says that in the Last Days people "will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them (2 Timothy 3:2-5)." What we see going on today was foretold in Scripture centuries ago. The frustration you have is evidence of the love you have for the lost, but what you see is proof that the Bible is true. People are choosing to deny the Lord out of their own volition because they want to be their own gods.
Remember that none of us love the world the way in which God loves it. He died for their sins and rose from the grave to offer them eternal life just as He did for us. The only thing standing in the way of their salvation is their unbelief. Nobody will be able to stand in front of the Lord and use an apparent lack of evangelism as an excuse. When the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples for praising Him, Jesus responded, "I tell you ... if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out (Luke 19:40)." God knows exactly where each individual on this planet is and what is in their heart. If they want to know Him, He has put enough evidence in the world for them to respond to. And even if a Christian is not available to reveal the Gospel to them, who is to say that a stone hasn't cried out? Do not concern yourself with whether or not a small minority of believers will be in Heaven. Be thankful that you are already a citizen of Heaven and do whatever it takes to make yourself available to God to be used as a witness of the salvation only found in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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