Jesus warned His disciples: “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matthew 7:13). Today, millions of mediocre Christians are walking along that road, not knowing where they are actually headed. Jesus said:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Verses 21–23).

In his book Escape to God, chapter 3, the author gives a figurative description of the Christian world, using as a metaphor the announcement of a plan by Satan to his angels. By absorption with work and material accomplishments, the devil plans to keep people too preoccupied to love God. To frustrate Christ’s warning the satanic host will do anything to distract the world. The author adds his conclusion:

“Has the devil been successful at his scheme? The plan has worked beyond his wildest dreams. Satan has managed to get the whole world aboard a fast-moving train. That train goes faster and faster with each passing day, and he is unwilling to slow that train down so that anyone can get off.”

Facts show that the question, Where is your heart? has only one answer. Jesus says and our experience testifies: Our heart (our main interest) is where our treasure (the concept of our most important values) is.

A rich oil man in Texas was entertaining one of his friends. The wealthy man said to the visitor: “I came here, without a penny in my pocket, many years ago.” Pointing in each direction, he continued, “Today I’m the owner of everything in every direction as far as you can see.” After a pause, the visitor pointed heavenwards and asked: How much do you own in this direction? The wealthy man dropped his head. May God help us so we won’t need to drop our head when we read the warning:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:19, 20).

Let us turn our attention from the broad way to the narrow way. Jesus said: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: . . . Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13, 14).

“God has jewels in all the churches, . . . Let men see [in us] piety and devotion, let them behold Christlikeness of character, and they will be drawn to the truth.”1

“Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ’s true followers are still to be found in their communion. There are many of these who have never seen the special truths for this time. Not a few are dissatisfied with their present condition and are longing for clearer light.”2

They will remain in Babylon until they hear the call, “Come out of her, my people” (Revelation 18:4). Why does the Lord leave them so long in confusion? This raises another question that we must ask ourselves. Are we prepared to receive them?

The “four [symbolic] angels [are still] standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four [symbolic] winds of the earth,” under their command to wait until the sealing work is finished. Read Revelation 7:1–3.

When the final test has come, and all the faithful ones, “who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received the ‘seal of the living God,’” the last door of probation will be closed forever. “Christ has made the [final] atonement for His people and blotted out their sins,” and “every case has been decided for life or death.”3 Then the announcement will be made:

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:11, 12).

As the time of Christ’s coming is drawing near, and the enemies of God in different countries are prepared “to strike in one night a decisive blow” against those who love and trust God, in order to “silence the voice of dissent and reproof,” the Lord will intervene. He will suddenly cause “dense blackness” to fall upon the earth.

The redeemed will hear the voice of God shaking the heavens and the earth. There is a mighty earthquake which opens the graves. “All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace.”4

Then “the voice of God is heard from heaven declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming and delivering the everlasting covenant to His people.”5

“Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. . . . The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man.”6

“It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).

“The King of kings descends upon the cloud, wrapped in flaming fire. The heavens are rolled together as a scroll, the earth trembles before Him, and every mountain and island is moved out of its place.”7

“The voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. . . . From the prison house of death they come, clothed with immortal glory, crying: ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ ”8

Read 1 Corinthians 15:51–54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14.

“The living righteous are changed ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.’ At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air.”9

“The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

“In all ages the Saviour’s chosen have been educated and disciplined in the school of trial. They walked in narrow paths on earth; they were purified in the furnace of affliction. For Jesus’ sake they endured opposition, hatred, calumny. They followed Him through conflicts sore; they endured self-denial and experienced bitter disappointments. By their own painful experience they learned the evil of sin, its power, its guilt, its woe; and they look upon it with abhorrence. A sense of the infinite sacrifice made for its cure humbles them in their own sight and fills their hearts with gratitude and praise which those who have never fallen cannot appreciate. They love much because they have been forgiven much. Having been partakers of Christ’s sufferings, they are fitted to be partakers with Him of His glory.”10