Why Will So Many Be Lost?

That there is such a thing as being lost is clear: "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost", Luke 19:10. And just as clear is the sobering truth that more will be lost than will be saved: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it”, Matthew 7:13-14. It is not popular to affirm either of these propositions but, unless Jesus (the one who affirmed both), was either lying or didn’t know what He was talking about, they must be believed and taken seriously.

In view of the fact that many will be lost, let’s consider some things we can do to avoid such a terrible fate

Realize that being lost is possible. Ironically, many will be lost because they believe they cannot be lost. But think carefully about the following: “Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God”, Hebrews 3:12; “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall”, 1 Corinthians 10:12; “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace”. Galatians 5:4. What purpose do these warnings serve if that which they warn against cannot, in fact, take place?

Remember the fate of the lost. Just as it is not popular to talk about people being lost, it is considered to be even more indelicate to talk about their fate: hell. The Greek word "gehenna" (translated "hell" in the New Testament) is found only 12 times in the Greek New Testament and Jesus uses it 11 times: (Matthew 5:22,29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 12:5). Its only other occurrence is in James 3:6. Whatever the exact nature of hell, Jesus describes it as a place we want to avoid: "And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] "And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] "And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-48

Don’t be gullible. Jesus warned "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves”, Matt. 7:15.  Not every religious teacher presents the truth and sincerity is not to be confused with accuracy. Just as we should not believe what every politician, CPA, or physician says, neither should we accept at face value what all religious teachers have to say. Which leads to our next point.

Test others. John encouraged his readers in this manner: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world”, 1 John 4:1. There is nothing wrong with asking a priest, rabbi, minister, et al, why they teach what they do and why it seems to differ from what they Bible says. People in the city of Berea were called “noble-minded”, Acts 17:11, because they examined the scriptures to see if what Paul and others taught was the truth. It is still noble to act in this manner today.

Test yourself.  “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!”, 2 Corinthians 13:5. How we “feel” about our relationship with God and what the scriptures say about it might be two entirely different things. The only safe standard of measurement is God’s word: “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected”, 1 John 2:3-5.

Lost! Lost! What terrible words and what a terrible concept in any setting. But we don’t have to be lost. Paul spoke of the Gentiles of his day as “having no hope and without God in the world,” and then went on to give words of hope: “But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made night in the blood of Christ”, Ephesians 2:12-13. Without that blood we are and will remain lost. It is in baptism that this blood is initially contacted which can wash away our sins: “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life”. Romans 6:3-4. Obedience to this simple command will wash away past sins and mean we won’t be lost because of them. Continual application of God’s word to our lives will keep us from being lost. Why not resolve to be among the saved and not the lost? 

David Smitherman