We should first understand that the Bible consistently presents salvation in a very positive manner. God created human beings in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27) and He gives us freedom of choice (Deuteronomy 30:19).

You mentioned that Matthew 7:14 indicates that many will fail in their quest for salvation. It reads: "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Since the Bible interprets the Bible, this passage should be viewed as applying during this age of man to the firstfruits of God, those few who are given an opportunity for salvation now. The "few" are the firstfruits and the "many" are those whom God isn't calling at this time.

Most don't find this narrow gate simply because they can't. Jesus said that no one can come to Him unless "the Father who sent Me draws him [or her]" (John 6:44, 65). Matthew 7:14 is simply telling us that only a relative few are being called now. The apostle Peter tells us that it is the Church that is being judged at this time (1 Peter 4:17). The members of the Church—elsewhere called "the firstfruits" of God (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; 16:15)—have real choice during this present age.

The broad majority of human beings do not have that same opportunity or choice at this time. They will have that choice at a later time during the millennial reign of Christ and during the time of the Great White Throne Judgment that follows (Revelation 20:1-5, 11-13). Our free booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind explains the chronology of events in much more detail. Please request or download your free copy.

The plan of salvation revealed through the biblical Holy Days highlights the important time factor. Salvation becomes available to humanity in a specified order (1 Corinthians 15:22-24)—the firstfruits of God now in this age, followed by the vast majority of people during the age to come.

God is very positive about our salvation. The apostle Paul said to the brethren at Philippi: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, emphasis added). God has all the resources in the universe at His command to help us. Nothing is impossible for Him (Genesis 18:14), but He wants us to choose His way voluntarily. He will not save us against our wills.

But even for the relative few who choose to reject God's offer of salvation, their punishment will not be everlasting life in the fires of hell. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Our free booklet Heaven and Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach? explains this biblical truth in great detail.

Focusing on the many positive passages of Scripture is essential. For instance, Jesus Christ said that His crucifixion would draw all peoples to Himself (John 12:32-33). And the apostle Paul said, "All Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26).

Paul also tells us that God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). Peter explains that "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Of course, in all of these passages we must remember the time factor and that He is not trying to save all men, women and children in this age.

God is the ultimate victor and He will save the vast majority of mankind. For further knowledge about how you can be saved, please request or download our free booklets The Road to Eternal Life and Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion.