graphicstock-opened-bible-on-a-wooden-desk-background_HC9Nsrp-W f f Few vs Many
 —Dr. Ron Williams
A remnant, by definition, is a small, tiny minority of a greater whole. 
Whereas the world of today puts a high priority on “popularity”, our Lord, by contrast, values the neglected/despised remnant.  Scripture warns about the siren call of popularity.  Exodus 23:2 reminds, Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil…”  When Pontius Pilate saw the multitude of rabid Christ haters, and especially when he heard shouts from the crowd that if he spared Christ’s life, he was “not a friend of Caesar”, he capitulated to majority opinion and condemned our Lord to satisfy the crowd.When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it” (Matthew 27: 24).
 
The faithful of God’s Kingdom are not usually encouraged by being in the majority.  Most often they are in a distinct and small minority.  The funeral cortege of Genesis 5 gives a litany of names ending with,
“…and he died.”  In contradistinction to this somber list of mortals, we are introduced to Enoch.  His profound, descriptive testimony was, “…he walked with God.”  He alone among his peers was “translated” (the same word used of Elijah in 2 Kings 2:3,5) that he would not experience physical death.  His translation is an incipient picture of the Rapture which will remove the righteous from the earth without experiencing physical death.
 
Genesis 6:1 says,
“Men began to multiply…”  Human population began a meteoric, explosive growth in numbers because of the longevity and fecundity of antediluvians.  However, in this teeming mass of humanity, only one man and his family “found grace in the eyes of the Lord”, Genesis 6:8.  He and his family of eight, out of possibly billions of souls, withstood the universal apostasy from the Lord and maintained their faith in God.
 
When Moses sent the 12 heads of the 12 tribes to spy out the promised land, all twelve saw the same people groups, land, crops, and cities.  Nevertheless, the groups responded with contrasting testimonies.  There was a majority report of unbelief and a minority report of faith.  The majority of ten rulers of the respective tribes brought up an evil report, whereas the minority (Joshua and Caleb, the heads of Judah and Ephraim) encouraged a response of faith and obedience.  Shortly after their testimony to Israel, the ten were killed by a plague from God, while Joshua and Caleb were promised they would see the promised land.  All who were twenty and above (in God’s reckoning, one held responsible for his/her decisions), would die in unbelief in the wilderness.  Only their children would cross into the Promised Land.  Listening to the majority, instead of the righteous minority, consigned the majority to a wilderness grave!
 
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah lamented that he was the only righteous man left in an apostate Israel, but the Lord corrected his thinking. 
“Yet have I left me 7000 in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).  Paul repeats this assertion of Elijah in Romans 11:4, and goes on to extrapolate from his statement about Paul’s contemporaries.  “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” Romans 11:5.  God’s plan of distilling humanity from its sizeable whole to a minority is evident in both testaments.
 
In Isaiah 10:21-22 we learn that apostate Judah was decimated by the marauding Assyrians, but a remnant was spared.  
”For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant shall return” (verse 22).   Paul, in Romans 9:27 quotes most of the same verse and ends by saying, “A remnant shall be saved.”
 
The Parable of the Sower is mentioned in all synoptic gospels.  In Matthew 13:3-8, we learn that four soils or “hearts” are held up for our consideration.  The first soil is the uncaring, Christ-rejecter who boldly spurns the gospel.  However, each of the last three hearts/soils ostensibly receive the gospel, but, as our Lord explains, only one of the three manifests fruit.  In other words, our Lord makes it plain that not all who seemingly receive the gospel, but only those who produce “fruit”,  are genuine.  Sadly, the Parable of the Tares points out that there will be lost people in the visible church until the end of the age.
 
The majority will enter the wide gate that leads to destruction (Matthew. 7:13), while the minority, “the few” will enter the “strait gate” (Matthew.7:14) which leads to life.  Do not be discouraged, weary Pilgrim!  You were never meant to be in the majority.  The fact that 100 prophets of God had to be hidden in caves in Elijah’s day indicates a murderous, relentless campaign to eradicate faithful witnesses to God.  Paul explains in 2 Timothy 3:12,
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
 
As our culture/society becomes increasingly pagan and secular, Bible believers will stand out as Noah and Elijah did in their respective generations.  Beware if you are “popular”!  You are probably ashamed of Christ in some major way.  If you find yourself “vexed” with the ungodliness all around us, you are probably a part of the blessed “remnant” despised by this world, but loved by our Lord.  If you do not “fit in”, it could well be that this world is not your home.
 
The early Christians were considered the “offscouring” of the world and were “tolerated” or persecuted, depending on the Roman emperor in power and the attitude of their contemporaries.  My believing friend, do not fear what the crowd thinks of you!  Fear what our Lord thinks!  That behavior put us in a distinct remnant/minority.

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