Jesus teaches at the end of His Sermon on the Mount, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). The gate that leads to eternal life is clear. Jesus says in John 10, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep…Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved” (John 10:7, 9). Why does He call the gate “narrow?” Is He not the King of kings and Lord of lords? The Creator of the universe. John said in the first three verses of his gospel, “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him” (John 1:3). Describing “the gate” as narrow does not mean it is difficult to become a Christian. Jesus is simply stating the obvious (to us at least) that there is only one way to eternal life with God – Him. He is also clear that, sadly, only a few will decide to walk that road.
How many is “a few?” Have you ever stopped to wonder about that? I recently saw a movie called Nefarious. In it, a demon-possessed man said that Satan was winning. That in terms of the numbers, there are more in hell or headed there and only a few are in heaven or bound for glory as they say. It kind of rocked me. Made me stop and think. Is that true? At first, I was defensive. You’re a liar! God already defeated Satan – kicked him out of heaven when he led a rebellion. Satan is headed for the eternal fire. Jesus said as much in Matthew 25:42, “Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.” But then I remembered, “…the gateway to life is very narrow…and only a few ever find it.” Only a few. That means a minority not a majority. Reluctantly, I had to admit, the demon had a point.
In fact, just this past year (2023) the world population passed the eight billion mark. There are now 8.1 billion humans living on planet earth. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary puts the world Christian population at 2.6 billion which works out to 32%. That means 5.5 billion people (or 68%) are not. Now, Jesus clearly says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” That means only those who believe – who are Christian – will enter heaven. The rest? Yeah, hell. Satan does have the numbers – 68% to 32%. He is “winning.” Why?
It’s not because Satan’s more powerful. He can’t hold a candle to the LORD. It’s because we all have free will and at the moment 68% of the world chooses not to believe in Jesus. That’s why Jesus says, “Only a few,” because 32% is not a majority by any measure.
That’s why His call to evangelize is so important. Jesus says in Mark, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). And in Matthew 28, “…go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:18). It’s our assignment.
It sounds weird but if winning 68 to 32 means joining Satan in hell, then this is one contest I am happy to be a loser. Because in losing – I win.
We should ask ourselves, “Have I shared the gospel with anyone? Is there not someone I would love to see enter through the narrow gate?”
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