a misconception about God and about whom will be worthy of heaven. The Bible
teaches that God is righteous; that is, He passes fair judgement on us as being
faithful servants. All that God requires of humans is that we obey Him. If we obey
God, He promises to GIVE us an eternity in heaven.
God does not promise how many will be saved or even that most will be saved
from hell. We can see in the Old Testament how God feels about people
disobeying Him. In the time of Noah, God caused a great flood to destroy the
earth. Only those who obeyed God were spared. Of the entire earth, only eight
people were spared according to God’s judgement; eight people out of the entire
world! During the time of Lot, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah according to
His righteous judgement; only four were saved out of all the people in the two
cities. God even punishes the angels when they disobey (II Peter 2:4-9 For if God
spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered
them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement; And spared not the
old world but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness,
bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making
them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just
Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. For that righteous man
dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day
to day with their unlawful deeds; The Lord knoweth ho to deliver the godly out
of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be
punished:).
The Bible teaches that the way to heaven is narrow (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.).
God wants us to obey Him specifically and completely. We are not given the
authority to choose our path into heaven. God has already chosen the path and it
is through obedience and faith (Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to
please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.). You must have both or you will not
enter heaven (James 2:14, 17 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say
he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? Even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone.). In believing that Jesus, the Christ, is the Son of
God and obeying His will, God will grant you eternal salvation. All those who do
not obey the Gospel will end up in hell. Not just murderers, and molesters, and
other monsters, but all who do not obey God will go to hell for punishment. That
includes all of those who just transgress against God even if it's just a handful of
times. These include sins such as not worshipping Him as it is laid out in the New
Testament, bringing reproach upon themselves or the church by living their lives
in a worldly manner, and blaspheming against God by means of changing His
word or teaching false doctrine (James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole
law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.). It is so difficult for some
people to accept. They see friends and neighbors that seem to so much good such
as lending a helping hand, visiting the sick, giving to the poor. But, if they are
teaching something other than the doctrine of Christ as it is laid out in the New
Testament, then their good works are all for naught. God will not give them credit
for their efforts because they have not done it in the manner that God has
appointed (Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what
the will of the Lord is.). It cannot be expressed enough that we must do
everything spiritual in the way that God has chosen or our efforts are in vain
(Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain
deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ.).
Use God’s word as it was intended and be sure of your salvation. Check and re-
check everything that you believe (Matthew 7:21-23 Not every on that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out
devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess
unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.). Question
every new thing that you hear and see if the Bible teaches it as so. Make sure that
everything that you think, say, and do is in accordance with the Will of God. Do
not take your salvation for granted. You do not want to face God unprepared.
