You are one of many. You are one of many students walking on the sidewalk right now. You are one of many students at MSU. You are one of many students attending colleges and universities all across this nation. You are one of many people living in Springfield (or the Springfield area). You are one of many people living in Missouri. You are one of many people living in America. You are one of many. A lot of people want to fit in. A lot of people want to blend in with the crowd. They hate to stand out. They want to be one of many.
But sometimes it’s better to be one of the few than the many. The slogan of the Marine Corps of the United States of America says “the few, the proud, the Marines.” Many schools have more than one valedictorian. So if you make it you are one of the few. Few people scale the highest mountains. Very few people have actually walked on the moon. Most importantly, few people are actually saved. Few people are actually born-again Christians. Few people are actually followers of Jesus Christ. Few people are actually His disciples.
Jesus said, Enter in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads to life, and FEW there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14).
Noah was a preacher of righteousness. The world was so wicked during Noah’s time, that God destroyed the whole world except for Noah and his family. Noah was one of the few, that is one of the 8 that were saved. The rest of the world perished in the flood. Many perished. Many people died. That was a perfect example where being one of many was not a good thing. Following the crowd in this case ended with many people perishing, with many people on the broad road to destruction who are now suffering eternal torment in Hell.
Many of the Israelite leaders came back from checking out the Promised Land and said that they couldn’t beat the people who inhabited Canaan. They said that giants lived there and that their cities were so well defended that they couldn’t be beat. Ten of the men said this, ten out of twelve. But two men, the FEW, Joshua and Caleb said that with God’s help, they could defeat the Canaanites. This is another great example where the many were in the wrong and the few were in the right. The Israelites wandered and suffered in the wilderness for 40 years because of the disobedience of the many and those same disobedient ones died during that 40 year period. It wasn’t a good thing to be a part of that many.
Many of Jesus’ disciples quit following Him when He told them tough things that they didn’t want to hear. For example when He said that spiritually speaking, that you had to eat His flesh and drink His blood or you couldn’t be saved (John 6:48-66). All of His apostles (the 11 that didn’t betray Him) deserted Him in the garden of Gethsemane. Many of the religious leaders were against Jesus and plotted to have Him killed. Many of the Jews cried out “crucify Him” when Pilate asked the crowd if they wanted their King released to them.
One of many, many times is the wrong crowd to follow. Maybe you are one of many people who have said a one-time prayer in church, but you never were really saved. Maybe you are one of many students who attended church while you were growing up, but now you are one of the many who don’t attend church at all. Maybe you are one of many people who have been baptized, but you are still lost and on the road to Hell. Maybe you are one of many who think that they are spiritually alright, but really are as lost as the most vile and wicked sinner. Maybe you are one of many that the devil has deceived. Maybe you are one of many who are stumbling around in darkness. Maybe you are one of many who will wind up in Hell after you take your last breath on this earth. Maybe you are one of many who claim Jesus Christ with their lips, but whose hearts are far from Him.
Don’t continue being one of many. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said, Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
In these three verses, Jesus tells us that His followers obey God. He tells us that His disciples do the will of God the Father. Do you do the will of Father God? Do you live for God or do you live for yourself? Do you please God or do you please yourself? Who or what are you living for today? Jesus is telling us that some people will call Him Lord on Judgment Day, even though they never were one of His followers.
Then in verse 22, Jesus says that many people will call out to Him, Lord, Lord. Many…many people will call out to Him. Are you one of the many? Are you going to be one of the many people who foolishly die in their sins and perish in Hell for all of eternity? Jesus said many, many people will be deceived. Please notice these people aren’t overtly God haters or God mockers. These are people who think that they are saved. They point out to Jesus all of the good works that they do. This verse proves that you cannot be saved by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
These people in verse 22 even cast out demons! Have you ever cast a demon out of someone? I haven’t. So if many people are going to say this to Lord Jesus on Judgment Day, what are you going to say to Him? And this verse also proves that there is going to be a literal Judgment Day. Jesus said “in that day.” Judgment Day is a specific day. Everyone will stand before Jesus on Judgment Day. You may not believe it, you may not like it, but there is judgment to come and you will stand before Jesus on that day. What will you say? What will be your defense? How will your plead your case to the King of kings and the Lord of lords?
Many people will be in a world of trouble on that day. They will try to justify their actions. They will try to put their best spin on things. But you can’t fool Almighty God. All things were created by Jesus and for Jesus. You will not be able to bluff your way out of trouble on Judgment Day and to all unrepentant sinners, every single one of the one of many, Jesus is going to say “I never knew you.” How heart breaking will it be for those who thought they were on the Lord’s side? Who thought they were doing His kingdom work and they’ll stand before Him in all His glory and splendor and He will say to them “I never knew you.”
Not only will He tell those who are one of the many that He never knew them, He’s also going to tell them to depart from Him. He’s going to banish them to everlasting torment in the lake of fire and brimstone. Those who are not truly saved will depart from the Lord Jesus Christ – permanently. They will suffer unbearable agony in the lake of fire. This is not a joke and it’s not a game. Being one of many will cause you great pain for all of eternity. You will suffer the righteous wrath of God forever!
Jesus went on to call those who are one of many, those who “work iniquity.” Iniquity is sin. We are all sinners and unless you are a sinner saved by grace, you are still spiritually dead in your trespasses and sin. You are still working merely for physical death in this life and the second death in the next life (Romans 6:23). But the second death is not just you burning up to a crisp and that’s it – you die and it’s all over. The second death is eternal. You never really die. You may feel like you are dying, you most definitely will cry out for death, but it will not relieve your pain. You will suffer forever and ever.
Folks, I don’t want to see you end up in the lake of fire suffering forever and ever. I want to see you recognize your sinfulness and God’s holiness. I want you to turn from your sins and live. If you want to be saved from your sins, if you want to go to Heaven after you die, you must be born-again. You must truly repent from your sins by turning away from them and you must put your faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. When Jesus is your Lord, you truly surrender your life to Him. You are changed. You are a new creature in Christ. You are not the same person you were before you were saved.
Don’t continue being one of the many; arrogant, God mockers and scoffers that are so prevalent in this day and time. Humbly come to Jesus. Humble yourself and cry out to the Lord for mercy. Admit that you are a sinner. Admit that you deserve to suffer God’s wrath over your sins. Admit that you have loved your sins. Then cry out to God with a humble and a contrite heart. Tell Him that you are sorry for your sins. Confess and forsake your sins. Admit that you are sorry for rebelling against God and ask Him for mercy. Ask Him to grant you repentance and faith in Jesus. Cry out for Jesus to save you. Be saved today. Stop running with the crowd. Stop being one of many. Humbly cry out for God to save you.
(This message was proclaimed at Missouri State University on October 22, 2014)