Recorded history has always revealed that most of mankind has been unconcerned about being right with God. Scripture, esp. in the New Testament, reveals this truism and a prime evidence of support is Christ’s proclamation in Matthew 7:13, 14: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Our Lord was utilizing comparative terms in the above passage to disclose that even though the saved will be innumerable by man’s standard (Rev 7:9), they will be considered few in comparison to the unsaved. This concept is also evident in the many Scriptural usages of the term “world” when referring to the majority of the Earth’s inhabitants. A prime evidence of support concerns a question that Judas Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus and is considered to be Jude, the Apostle who wrote the epistle of Jude, asked Christ in John 14:21, 22: “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. Judas saith unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world”? In this sense the term “world” is in reference to the majority of the Earth’s inhabitants, otherwise it would also include the Apostles and the remnant of the saved.
Realizing most will perish increases the urgency of outreach and being aware of this truism can cause us to be more knowledgeable of God’s ways of using us to draw others to Christ.
The question could be asked, “Since God is omniscient and knew most would not choose His way, why did He create man? One reply could be, “He did it for the sake of those He knew would be saved”!
Our Lord was utilizing comparative terms in the above passage to disclose that even though the saved will be innumerable by man’s standard (Rev 7:9), they will be considered few in comparison to the unsaved. This concept is also evident in the many Scriptural usages of the term “world” when referring to the majority of the Earth’s inhabitants. A prime evidence of support concerns a question that Judas Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus and is considered to be Jude, the Apostle who wrote the epistle of Jude, asked Christ in John 14:21, 22: “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. Judas saith unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world”? In this sense the term “world” is in reference to the majority of the Earth’s inhabitants, otherwise it would also include the Apostles and the remnant of the saved.
Realizing most will perish increases the urgency of outreach and being aware of this truism can cause us to be more knowledgeable of God’s ways of using us to draw others to Christ.
The question could be asked, “Since God is omniscient and knew most would not choose His way, why did He create man? One reply could be, “He did it for the sake of those He knew would be saved”!