Will You Be One of the Few?
INTRODUCTION.
A. I have some terrible news: Not everyone setting here today would go to heaven if the Lord was to return at this very moment. The number of tragic stories would abound if the Lord was to return right now.
B. The question that you must ask yourself is this: If the Lord was to return today or you were to die, would you go to heaven? Well, would you?
C. It is the purpose of this lesson to consider the subject of heaven, including the discussion of who will spend eternity in heaven.
D. Listen carefully because at the end of the lesson, I will ask you, “Will you be one of the few?” If you find the answer to be no, then you will have an opportunity to either turn to the Lord for the first time, or to turn back to him after having departed into sin.
E. Let us begin with showing that Heaven is a place for believers.
I. HEAVEN IS A PLACE PREPARED FOR THE “FEW” WHO BELIEVE.
A. In John 14:1-4, Jesus told His apostles that He was going to prepare a place in Heaven.
B. Christians can look forward to dwelling in “an house not made with hands.” (II Corinthians 5:1)
C. Abraham longed for this city that was built by God. (Hebrews 11:9-10)
II. WHAT WILL THE “FEW” FIND IN HEAVEN?
A. God is in Heaven. (Matthew 5:16,48)
B. Jesus Christ is reigning from Heaven.
1. After Jesus was resurrected from the dead, God seated Jesus on His right hand in the heavenly places. Being on the right hand of God, Jesus is reigning over everything. Jesus Christ is head over all things to the church. (Ephesians 1:18-23)
2. Jesus will continue to reign until He turns the kingdom over to His Father. (Hebrews 10:12-13; I Corinthians 15:20-28)
C. The Holy Spirit is in Heaven.
1. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit from Heaven. (John 15:26-27)
2. The Holy Spirit bears witness in Heaven. (I John 5:7)
D. Angels are in Heaven. (Matthew 24:36; Luke 2:15)
E. The reward of the faithful is in Heaven. (Matthew 5:12)
F. The spiritual treasures that Christians have laid up are in Heaven. (Matthew 6:19-20; 19:21)
G. The names of the righteous are written in Heaven. (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23)
H. A Christian’s hope lies in Heaven. (Colossians 1:3-6)
I. A Christian’s citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
J. The inheritance of the righteous is in Heaven. (I Peter 1:3-4)
III. WHO WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN?
A. Those who are prepared for the coming of the Lord will spend eternity in Heaven. (Matthew 25:1-13)
1. All ten of the virgins knew who was coming: The bridegroom.
2. The virgins knew what to do in order to be prepared.
3. Five of the virgins made preparations for the coming of the bridegroom. The other five virgins did not make preparations.
4. The five wise virgins were able to go into the wedding. The five foolish virgins were left out.
5. Consider the closing statement in verse 13: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
6. Everyone must work to be prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ. Only those who are prepared will enter into Heaven.
B. Those who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength will spend eternity in Heaven. (Mark 12:28-34)
1. Take notice of the statement made by the scribe in verses 32-33. To love the Lord God with all of one’s being and to love one’s neighbor is better than offerings and sacrifices.
2. Take notice of Jesus’ response in verse 34. (The kingdom of God is the church. One who is a member of the kingdom of God, living faithfully, will enter into Heaven.)
C. Those who draw near to God will spend eternity in Heaven. (James 4:7-10)
1. Drawing near unto God requires several different things.
a. One must DECIDE to DRAW NEAR to God by studying His word and obeying Him.
b. Drawing near requires that one be translated into the kingdom of Christ. (Colossians 1:12-14)
c. One must COMMIT to God. This is a commitment that will keep one living a life of prayer, study, and faithfulness.
2. In order for one to truly draw near unto God, he must draw near to God inwardly and outwardly. Only then will God draw near unto him.
D. Those who are transformed will spend eternity in Heaven. (Romans 12:1,2)
1. Along the same lines as being translated into the kingdom, we must also be transformed.
2. Being transformed requires the following:
a. One must present his body a living sacrifice; a sacrifice which is holy and acceptable unto God. This can only be done if one will DECIDE to DRAW NEAR to God and to COMMIT himself to God as discussed earlier.
b. Cease being conformed to the world. In other words, stop behaving in the sinful ways of the world.
c. One must renew his mind. Refer to Ephesians 4:22-32.
E. The few will be found in heaven.
1. Matthew 7:13-14 - “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (NKJV)
2. Matthew 20:16 - “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (NKJV)
3. Matthew 22:14 - “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (NKJV)
CONCLUSION.
A. So, are you going to be one of the few who will spend eternity in heaven?
1. If you are not yet a Christian, then no, you will not be one of the few. Thankfully, you can change that by obeying Jesus’s command to believe and be baptized so that you will be saved. (Mark 16:16)
2. If you are a Christian, yet you are living in sin or you are unwilling to repent of a sin, then you will not be one of the few who will spend eternity in heaven. If this is you, then heed the words of Peter when he said to Simon, “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8:21-23, NKJV) If you want to go to heaven, then you must repent and stop the sin or else you will be eternally damned.
B. If you are a Christian who is faithfully serving God, overcoming sin on a daily basis, then yes, you will be one of the few who will enter into heaven. Please, continue serving the Lord with all of your might.
C. If you want to go to heaven but you are on the road leading to hell, then make the decision to either turn to Christ or turn back to Christ, whatever your need may be, and come forward as we stand and sing.
------------------------------------
Will You Be One of the Few? -- March 17, 2002 -- File # 295 - Heaven
by John M. Duvall – Lawton ,OK