In fact, few will be in the kingdom of heaven
A poll in the USA revealed that over 80% Americans think that they are going to heaven. However, this conflicts with what the Bible says. The Bible says that few will be saved.
Mt 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
God calls people to be a part of His kingdom, but just because you are called to be a part of His kingdom it doesn’t mean that you will be in the kingdom of heaven. Why? It is because, in the kingdom of heaven, many are called, but few are chosen.
Mt 22:2-14 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4 Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast."’5 But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. 7 But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests. 11 But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
This passage was primarily spoken to the Jews, referring to them ignoring God, but it also applies to us.
Those who were invited were not worthy and were thus rejected. When God calls, we should be careful to heed the call – otherwise we too will be rejected.
Rom 11:20-22 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do R555 not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
Some people are focused on making money. Some are focused on their hobbies. Some are focused on their pleasures. When God calls them they do not have time to pay attention. They live, and then they die, and they find that the greatest mistake they made was to ignore the call of God.
Others try to reach God in their own way; they try to come to the wedding feast without the proper wedding clothes. Jesus said that He is the only way to the Father.
What about you? Is your life one busy day after the other, spent in making money, and then spending it on your hobbies and pleasures?
Or are you among those trying to find God in your own way?
The gate to life is small, and the way is narrow. Few find it. Many are called, but few are chosen.
Since many are called but few are chosen therefore you have to make your calling certain.
2 Pet 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
We make our calling certain by being worthy of our calling.
Eph 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
1 Thess 2:12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
2 Thess 1:11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,
Both Peter and Paul were talking to believers, so these are words for us too to pay heed to.
Given that there is a separation, and the fact that only few will be chosen, one critical question that we must ask is this: what type of people will God choose to be in the kingdom of heaven? That question is answered in a later section.
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