If you look at human history, it appears more people are going to hell than to heaven since only a small percentage of the world’s population is Christian.
Not Many Saved
If you look at human history, it appears more people are going to hell than to heaven since only a small percentage of the world’s population is Christian. Only 31.7 percent of the world’s population is considered Christian. By the way, the word “Christian” can be associated with some form of Christian faith, not necessarily the biblical definition. For example, hundreds of cults teach a different Christ and still claim to be Christian, but this is not a true Christian. The point is, there are fewer Christians than we think there are because not everyone who calls themselves a Christian, is one (Matt 7:21-23).
Out of this segment of self-proclaimed Christians (31.7%), those who do not profess Christ number a whopping 70 percent! Those who don’t profess Christ cannot call themselves a Christ. In China, which has nearly one-fifth of the earth’s population, only about 5 percent of the people profess to be Christians. India has 17 percent of the world’s population but only 2.6 percent Christian. Japan is less than 1 percent Christian and in the Middle East and North Africa only 3.8 percent of the population is Christian.
[1]
Is Christianity the Largest Religion?
Although Christianity is considered the largest religion today, clearly we can see that the vast majority of humanity is not and has never been part of any form of Christian worship, so they cannot technically call themselves Christian.
According to Christian teachings, humans are made in the image of God; and as such, all should have an equal opportunity for eternal life. The Bible expresses exactly that “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality: But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35). There are multiple millions that believe, but there are many more millions (and billions) who have never believed. The majority of the world right now and in human history appears to have rejected Jesus Christ, just as they did in First Century Judea, so on the surface at least, it appears that most people are not going to heaven but instead, they will be going to hell. Many are called, but only a few are chosen, as we shall see.
Many Called, Few Chosen
[2]How can we know who the Christians truly are? They obey God. Jesus said “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” (Matt 7:21-23). If someone is not following God’s Word or obeying Him, then that person cannot truly claim to be a Christian. On the Day of Judgment, tragically, many will believe they are saved but are not. Jesus said in fact, “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” (Matt 7:22). They claim to have taught Jesus’ Word and to have been in His service, but what does Jesus say of such people. He says, “then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt 7:23). There remained lawlessness in their life and un-repentant of sin, so it’s not that He didn’t know about them since Jesus as God is omniscient, but they didn’t have a personal relationship with Him. If they did, they would have strived to obey God’s will. They knew about Him, as most people do, but they did not truly know Him personally because “everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand” (Matt 7:25). To hear and not obey is to show a person is not truly Christ’s.
Fearing God
The Bible clearly teaches that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Prov 9:10), but today, there is little fear or respect or reverence for the Lord (Rom 3:18). There should be, because our eternal destiny is at stake. We shouldn’t worry so much about who kills us or how but rather, what happens after death (Heb 9:27). That’s why Jesus warned us to “not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). Fear hell because it is eternal and there’s no repentance in hell. It’s too late. Like the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man could not go to or from Abraham’s bosom (Paradise) to warn his brothers because it is an unbridgeable gap (Luke 16:19-31).
[3]Lazarus and the Rich Man by Fyodor Bronnikov. 1886
Being Sure
If you are not sure if you yourself are a Christian, today is the day to decide that. Today is the Day of Salvation (1 Cor 6:2) and not tomorrow. We must make certain, which is why the Apostle Peter commanded us to “be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall” (2 Pet 1:10). That’s an imperative command to make our election or calling 100% certain. We can’t guess about it or hope so…we must know so!
Conclusion
I wish it were not true that the majority of mankind will be cast into hell someday (Dan 12:2-3; Rev 20:12-15, 21:8). It’s not so amazing that only a few in the human family will believe in Christ or only a few will be saved. What’s amazing to me is that anyone is saved. God Himself must open our eyes and ears to see and hear the gospel and why we need Jesus Christ (Eph 2:1-5). Everyone who wants to come to Christ can come (Matt 11:28-20)…at least today, because no one has any guarantee that tomorrow will ever come. This is why today (not tomorrow) is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2). Either trust in Him today and have your sins forgiven, or reject Him and He will be your Judge and you will eternally pay for your own sins (Rev 20:12-15). It is your choice. Choose today…while it is still called, “today.”
Here is some related reading for you: Is There Really A Place Called Hell? [4]
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.