Richard Hollerman

As I was walking this early morning, I was thinking. And thinking more. We are living in a world of about nine billion souls and surely they all need Jesus and His salvation. But, regretfully, we must say that most of these dear people think that they are right with God (or even know God) but they are dreadfully lost. As I was going around the lake these thoughts occupied my mind. Much was on my mind, of course. As I strolled along and viewed the ducks,, the geese, and the squirrels these thoughts came to me and I must share them with you.

Of course, I think and thought of those around me and then I meditated on people in the world. We all know, these people will be here for a mere 100 years and probably many years less. Could it be 50, 60, 70, 80 or even 90? So we must admit that at best all of us will be gone before very long. The people at the park will be gone. People around the world (all nine billion of them) will be gone. The ones that I researched this past month or two will be gone. You and I will be gone too. But for some reason we live as though we will not die or if we do die it won’t be for a long while. Is this what you and I believe?

I wasn’t sure of the term that was appropriate, but perhaps Pluralism will do. Or maybe something else. We also find this:

According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, or ultimate concerns. (Wikipedia).

As I walked, I had to think of the nine billion people on earth. I was concerned and still am. If we only look at these poor folks, we know that ten or 3,000 people, scattered about, and all of these people will one day be gone. The time is so very, very short. Most will be gone in 60 or 80 or even 100 years!

From the research that I have done, people seem to be unconcerned about their condition and where they will be after death. We know that perhaps 150 thousand people die each day. This would be 67 million total. This would include all deaths, and not merely those who die from suicide. To break it down further, we discover that about 48,000 males and 10,000 females die from suicide in the United States each year.

Apparently, they think that they will go to oblivion. Some, such as atheists, think that they will just die and that will be all. This means that apparently, unless they are Agnostics or Atheists, they just put this matter out of their conscience. But these non-religious responses, are ways to avoid the inevitable end to which they must face They must then face a true God who will hold them accountable for their beliefs or lack of belief, and their actions.

As I walked around the lake, I thought of the dozens and dozens of views that we find among people. This is what I mean. Let’s discuss briefly what I thought about at this juncture.

As we view the world and the views found, this is what is before us. Think of Islam, the largest religion after the various elements of Christianity. Islam does have nearly two billion souls, and it is composed of Shias and Sunni Muslims (and other sects). They think that suicide is a sin, as taught by Muhammad, but some Muslims do take their life.

According to their (false) religion, these people are now gone and must face “Allah” in judgement. Sadly, this religion, begun by Muhammad, responds to the Koran or Quran, but it is all false, as we know. These million or billions are now gone (after suicide and other issues) and what will happen to them?

Besides this, we find Hinduism, a very early religion, found in India and Pakistan and now even in America. With their belief in some 330 million different “gods” they definitely are false and wrong. Buddhism, a religion found in the far East, comes next. This religion would be atheistic and is definitely wrong and evil. Taoism, Shintoism, Confucianism, and even Zoroastrianism, would also be wrong, of course. This would be the case for atheism and agnosticism. Yet, even though these would clearly be wrong and perverse, they are believed and followed by a huge number of people!

As we come “closer home,” we find that there may be 1.3 billion people devoted to a false doctrine called Roman Catholicism. There would also be Orthodoxy, in its many different forms. All of these are false, of course, but they are followed by a vast number of people on earth. And every year, millions upon millions die and face the Lord in judgement.

In the Protestant world, there are many people too. Think of the Anglicans (and Episcopalians), the Methodists, the Lutherans, the Presbyterians, and even the Pentecostals. These tens of millions (or billions of people over the many years, are scattered around the world. They would be wrong and false for many different reasons—Infant baptism, feminism, church organization, and many other aberrant views and practices.

Many other views are also found in Protestantism—the United Church of Christ, the Jesus Only Pentecostals (or Oneness views), the Mennonites, the Church of the Brethren, the Quakers (Society of Friends), and many others. Then there would be so-called “Cults” such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons, the Adventists, and the “Church of Christ, Scientist.”

Many people are devoted to these various sects or cults, but they are wrong, dead wrong. As we walked, and thought, and had the conclusion that these many thousands, even millions, and even billions of people are absolutely wrong not just now but during the past century and five centuries. They think that they are right with God but they are wrong.

If there are nine billion people on earth, we know that thousands upon thousands, are wrong and will be cast off by the Lord at the judgment. (As we have mentioned, this would be after perhaps 60 or 90 years of life on earth! We find this sad, so very sad and it could be said also “hopeless” in nature.) How will God deal with these many deluded and misguided souls? What will be their fate? These members of the “world religions” are now gone. Atheists and agnostics are also gone. Misguided and disobedient Protestants are all gone. So are Catholics and the Orthodox gone.

As we view the world and the views found in it, this is what is before us. Think of Islam, the largest religion after the various elements of Christianity. Islam does have nearly two billion souls, and it is composed of Shias and Sunnis, but we also find a few sects, involved as well. But this religion, begun by Muhammad, believes in Allah, a false “god” and responds to the Koran or Quran, but all of this is false, Yet many people are devoted to these various sects or cults, but they are wrong, dead wrong.

As we walked, and thought, and had the conclusion that these many thousands of people are absolutely wrong. They think that they are right with God but they are also are wrong. If there are nine billion people on earth, we know that thousands upon thousands, are wrong and will be cast off by the Lord at the judgment.

(As we have mentioned, this would be after perhaps 60 or 90 years of life!. We find this sad, so very sad and it could be said also “hopeless” in nature.) They are now gone. Roman Catholics, Orthodox (such as Coptics in Egypt) and many others are now gone—and will forever be gone in their sin, unbelief, and evil.

Let us do what we can to reach these dear people and bring them to Christ while there is yet time! Yes, I am in pain and this would be a reason why!