(Answer from Mark Ort.)
There are people in the most remote parts of the world who are likely to never meet anyone who could share the gospel. How will God judge those who've never had an opportunity to accept Christ?
It is true that there are people in remote areas of the world who have never had access to a bible or will never come in contact with a Christian who would proclaim the gospel message of Jesus. In a world with over 7 billion people, it is estimated that 2-3 billion have never heard the gospel.
This should shock us. And this should fan the flame of urgency in the heart of every Christian regarding their responsibility to take the good news into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20). Believers need to be involved in missions. At Harvest, we take the ‘Pray, Give, Go’ approach: everyone can pray, everyone can give; some people can go.
But the question still remains: there are still people who haven’t heard or will ever hear. And so, how will God judge them?
Consider the account in the book of Acts (chapter 14) where a man from Lystra who never walked. He was lame in his feet from birth. Paul, along with Barnabas, had been proclaiming the gospel with boldness. Approaching the lame man who was listening, Paul told him to stand on his feet, and immediately he was healed and able to walk. The crowds began to look at Paul and Barnabas as if they were some sorts of gods, calling them Zeus and Hermes. They were horrified to think the crowds viewed them as such.
Don’t miss Paul’s response. He directs them to the God of Creation, “WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM” (Acts 14:15). A couple verses later, Paul says that God did not leave them without a witness, that He did good and provided rain from heaven and fruitful seasons. He satisified them with food and gladness. In other words, Paul was saying that God was right there, showing Himself to them through Creation. Showing His goodness. Showing His kindness. Providing for them. Making Himself evident to them. Did they look for God? Did they recognize His presence? Did they respond to the obvious?
Similarly, and perhaps more clearly, Paul wrote to the Roman believers that the true God can be known. How? Because God Himself made it evident to all. Romans 1:19 says, “that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them”. How has He made the truth about Himself known? One way obviously is through the Scriptures. But another way is stated in the next verse (for those who don’t have access to the scriptures or have never heard): “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made”. Evident. Clearly seen. So evident, so clear, that Paul emphatically states, ‘they are without excuse’.
It would be cruel, even scandalous for God to create a human being in His image and then give him or her no opportunity to have a relationship with Him. These passages tell us that when people look around them and see Creation, they see the glory of God (Psalm 19:1-6). The true God is shouting through the megaphone of the beauty of His Creation. He making Himself evident to them! They are then responsible for seeking out the God that made all of this. If they are truly seeking the God of Creation, He will provide them with everything they need to establish a proper relationship with their Creator.
