"And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace" - Romans 11:4-5 (NIV). 

There is a common false belief to imagine Christians or more specifically believers and followers of Christ as being of a marjority faith. Of course we have had of Christian nations where it is assumed Christ followers are in the marjority. Much as this might sound flattering the reality is followers of Christ have and will always be a minority group.

This was clearly evident at the start of the early church when followers of Christ were restricted to their houses from where they fellowshiped. Following Apostle Paul's conversion and the spread of Christianity among the Gentiles the numbers of Jesus followers grew but not to a point of being in the marjority. Christians were intensily persecuted by the Romans until 312 when Emperor Constantine decided to embrace the faith and turn it into a state religion.

Following that it has been common to find nations where Christianity is paraded as a state religion- such as the Anglican church headed by the monarch of England. However, the truth is when it comes to following Christ in obedience of his commands the numbers are just not there.

These days it is increasingly becoming more so in certain "Christian nations" with legislation making it harder to practice the Christian faith based on the Bible. There are nations that are avowedly atheist like China soon to become the number one economy.

This though should never trouble us for as our verse shows from the days of Noah there is "a remnant chosen by grace"! And clearly these are not in the marjority. For the truth is, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Mathew 20:22).

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for this personal faith in you which I deeply treasure and so help me persevere in truth to the end, this I pray in Jesus's name!