May 17, 2023

Two Groups and Two Destinations

“I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.’ They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.’ As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.”

 John 8:26-30 (NASB)

            Billy Graham said years ago, “Church, I love you, but I suspect only 20% of you will make it to heaven.” Some know Jesus. Some don’t, even when they have all the evidence.

         “So Jesus said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He,” What a shattering statement. His statement alluded to the future cross He faced less than 6 months away. His “lifting up,” would be the time He was raised upright into position for crucifixion. Imagine the foreknowledge of the pain and suffering and yet have the willingness to continue. “Then you will know that I am He.” By the time the Jews finally realized Jesus was the Son of God, it would be too late. By being willfully ignorant to the truth, and remaining self-righteousness, they condemned themselves. “As a result, they condemned themselves ultimately to die in their sins never seeing heaven, but suffering eternal wrath.”[1] They would spend an eternity in hell remembering the times when they willfully denied Him. Their remembrance would occur in a tormented place filled with pain and suffering for eternity. I don’t think most of us think like this when we consider the short amount of time, we each have. Eternity is forever. Theirs would become a place filled with eternal remorse about what could have been, rather than a place filled with blessings and peace. There is a better, more joyous part of this story though…

         “As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.” The word “believe,” here is pisteuō in Greek meaning to believe, or entrust.[2] It stems from the root word “pistis.” “Pistis” carries an element of “faith” in definition. Simply put, the word “believe” means that those who came to believe in Him, acted in faith. Why is this significant? Belief for salvation is more than just trusting someone, but by placing their faith and pledging their belief in Jesus. It involves the heart, not the head to believe. Those who heard and believed Jesus’ words weren’t educated Jews. They were ordinary Jews who lived and worked each day, under the authority of their religious leaders. They trusted these leaders to help guide their lives each day under the law. Their faith was simple and not overcomplicated as their leaders would impress, it was heartfelt.

        Now look at the two groups today. One has all the knowledge to make one wise of God, but reject the One who came. The other has limited knowledge, but accepts the One who spoke to them. One acted in disbelief, the other in belief. These two people still exist today as well. Some are in even in your church. Some have the knowledge of God, but have never acted in genuine faith. Some have the knowledge of God, and have acted in an experiential faith which granted them eternal life with their Savior. Experience what Jesus has in store for you today.

[1] (John MacArthur, 2006), 350.

[2] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).