Why So Few People Are on the Road to Heaven

Introduction:
  I. Bible clearly teaches that man must die. Hebrews 9:27
 II. Bible clearly teaches that there is life after death.
     A. Punishment for wicked.
     B. Reward for the righteous.
     C. Scriptures:
        1. Matthew 25:31, 46
        2. Luke 16:19-31
III. This being clear, one would expect to find a great portion 
     of people on the road to heaven.
 IV. Yet, Matthew 7:13-14
  V. Why? I believe that there are at least four reasons.

Body:
  I. They do not believe in heaven.
     A. There are scoffers.
     B. Bible is from God.
        1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
        2. 2 Peter 1:20-21
     C. and, that Bible talks about life after death, in a place 
        called heaven, a reward for the faithful.

 II. Many, though nominally believing in existence of heaven, 
     are failing to recognize it as reality.
     A. Their attitude is much like our attitude towards nuclear 
        attack.
     B. We have heard of heaven all our lives, we believe in it, 
        but somehow we get so involved in this world, that we 
        give little thought to its reality.
     C. Someone offers you a fortune in Miami, a beautiful 
        house; guaranteed happiness; friends and loved ones will 
        be there.  All you have to do is work real hard for one 
        week.  Would you?
        1. Why?
        2. It is reality.
     D. Scriptures:
        1. John 14:1-3
        2. 2 Corinthians 5:1
        3. 1 John 3:2
        4. Revelation 7:9-17
        5. Revelation 21:1-4, 10-27
        6. Revelation 22:1-5
     E. Literal?
     F. It is beautiful, eternal, and we can go there.

III. Many have been misled as to what it takes to go to heaven, 
     and so have not entered the road to heaven.
     A. Some have been led to believe that it takes absolutely 
        nothing to go to heaven.
     B. Some have been misled as what to do to go to heaven.
     C. And such people are hard to get on the road to heaven.

 IV. Many are just not willing to pay the cost.
     A. It costs something to serve the Lord. Luke 14:27-30, 33
     B. It costs:
        1. Money:
           a. 1 Corinthians 16:2
           b. 2 Corinthians 9:6
        2. Time:
           a. Acts 20:7
           b. Titus 3:1
        3. Pleasure
           a. sinful.
           b. legitimate
        4. Friends – 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Bad company corrupts 
           good morals.” NAS
     C. Many would be glad to be on the road to heaven if it 
        would not cost them anything.
     D. Matthew 19:22

Conclusion:  One final thought: many are not on the road to heaven 
because of procrastination.  Acts 24:24-25

(This outline is based on an outline of Bill Hall.)