One Bread, One Body
"I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see My glory." —Isaiah 66:18
Years ago in the fire and brimstone era of the Church, we got the idea that hardly anyone went to heaven. Most people hoped to just slip into the back door of purgatory. Nowadays, we get the idea that everyone goes to heaven. Some people even say there is no hell, or if there is, no one's there but Judas, Hitler, and Jack the Ripper.
What does Jesus say? In answer to the question about whether few would be saved, Jesus replied: "Try to come in through the narrow door. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and be unable" (Lk 13:24). Jesus also said: "The invited are many, the elect are few" (Mt 22:14).
It seems unbiblical and presumptuous to think that almost everyone accepts Jesus as Lord and goes to heaven. On the other hand, it is not part of our heavenly Father's plan that even one person be lost (Mt 18:14), for He wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4). If God had His way, all would be saved and go to heaven.
Therefore, we should be confident but not presumptuous about our eternal life with Jesus. "Be solicitous to make your call and election permanent, brothers; surely those who do so will never be lost. On the contrary, your entry into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for" (2 Pt 1:10-11).
Prayer: Jesus, Savior, have mercy on me!
Promise: "Make straight the paths you walk on, that your halting limbs may not be dislocated but healed." —Heb 12:13
Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus. You came to seek and save the lost (Lk 19:10). You are our Salvation (Ps 27:1). Alleluia!
Presentation Ministries, Fr. Al Lauer
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2 comments:
Fr. Al writes: "If God had His way, all would be saved and go to heaven."
I have a question. How does that statement square with the following passage from Scripture: "From the beginning I revealed the future, in advance, what has not yet occurred. I say: My purpose will come about, I shall do whatever I please (emphasis added) (Isaiah 46:10 NJB)?
My question is, how can it be that God doesn't get "his way" with regard to the salvation of individual sinners (or with regard to anything else for that matter), and yet declares, in Scripture, that His purpose will come about and that He will do whatever pleases Him? In other words, in light of this Scriptural reference, why don't all go to Heaven, if, in fact, He desires that they do so?
Any light you can shed on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
An Inquiring Mind
1. Man has free will. [gift of God]
2. What pleases God is that man has free will and that He should be worshiped by men with this own free will, [God's gift} regardless of His [God's] own desires.
3. There is no greater love than one should lay down his life for his friends. In this respect, God lays down "His own desires" out of love for man and the free will that He [God] has give mankind.
Hope that helps.
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