There is an unsettling truth found within the pages of the Bible which has troubled me for many years, one which most people are completely unaware of. This truth is known as "the many and the few," and represents a ratio between those who will enter eternal life with Christ (the few) and those who will not (the many). We know this is true because Jesus Himself explained this ratio multiple times. This is a terrible ratio to think about for humanity. Certainly there are groups within the total of all humanity who blatantly reject the only One who can and does make a way to gain eternal life. Or those who could care less about others, and will steal or kill for their own purposes. Or those who abuse their positions of power and leadership and use their influence to accumulate riches for themselves and their families. Our broken and sin-filled world abounds with evil, and has for many hundreds of years. But there exists, within the ranks of all humanity, a sub-population within religious circles who believe they are doing, or have already done what is necessary to secure eternal life. They attend church, they are charitable to others, they are good neighbors, and they are likely nice people. In many cases, they are in the ministry. However, according to Jesus Himself, they will be very surprised on the day of judgment: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord, ' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23) Church folks who are "workers of lawlessness" (which also means wickedness)? The only possible way that "good works in Jesus name" could ever be considered as wicked or lawless, is if the person doing the works has never placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. This explains the statement from Jesus "I never knew you." Jesus knows His own, and they know Him. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." (John? ?10? ?27?-?28)?? The question of why more people don't choose heaven, despite having free will, is a challenging one. let's investigate the answers together.
