My son has a question about those who haven’t heard about God and Jesus … those in remotest parts of the world. I told him God doesn’t wish anyone to perish and would make a way for everyone to know Him. He said he doesn’t believe everyone hears. How can I help him?
Here are the factors we have to deal with in answering this question. First, God is just. Speaking of Him Moses said, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Second, 1 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 both say God wants everyone to be saved.
Third, In Romans 1:20 Paul explained that to this end He made himself so obvious in the Creation that no one can use ignorance of His existence as an excuse.
And fourth, Jesus said He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), and everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
So God wants everyone to be saved and being a just God He could not condemn anyone who never had a chance to be saved. Nobody can use a lack of knowledge about God as an excuse because the creation makes His existence clear. But in order to be saved a person has to believe in Jesus as well.
Therefore God has to bring the Gospel message to everyone who acknowledges Him, and give them the opportunity to accept or reject it. This is not a difficult thing for Him to do and He has many methods at His disposal.
As one example, because of the increase in world wide communications we’re discovering that Jesus has been coming to people in their dreams, especially in places where evangelism is illegal, and many have been saved this way. This capability alone gives Him unlimited access to everyone at any time.
Bringing the gospel to everyone in the world only sounds impossible to us because we don’t have His capabilities.
Jesus promised that everyone who asks will receive, everyone who seeks will find, and to all who knock the door will be opened (Matt. 7:7-8). He couldn’t have said this unless it’s true.