By John A. Huffman, Jr
Michael and Robert Shannon, in their book Celebrating the Resurrection, observe that John Wooden, the famous UCLA basketball coach, always keeps a cross in his pocket. He says he keeps it there to remind himself that there is something more important in life than basketball.
What's most important in your life? What to you is the equivalent of what basketball has been to John Wooden? Are you willing to acknowledge that the cross of Jesus Christ and the empty tomb are more important? On the basis of what God has done for you, you are privileged to have forgiveness from Him and to forgive others and to be free to allow others to forgive you.
Bill Flanagan, in our Divorce Recovery Workshops, says that the major breakthrough for persons recovering from the brokenness and the pain of divorce is the willingness to forgive their former spouse, even if that former spouse doesn't think they need any forgiveness. Forgiveness is critical for life. The life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ enables you to be a forgiven person and a forgiving person!
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Question 5: What about those people who have never had a chance to hear about Jesus?
That's a big question. I don't have an easy answer to it. One reason they haven't heard is that we haven't been faithful in going into all the world and preaching the Gospel to every person. The reason more have not heard is because we have not been that faithful.
All salvation, past, present and future, according to the Bible comes through the person and work of Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection. The Bible declares there is only one name in heaven and earth by which we can be saved, and that is the name of Jesus Christ. At the same time, the Bible declares, in Jeremiah 29:13: "When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart." And Jesus refers to having other sheep, of which we know not.
How this all fits, I don't know. But I do know this: That no one will stand before God on the day of judgment and be able to say with genuine feeling, "God, you are not fair!" How God handles those who have never heard is God's problem when you and I have been faithful in sharing the Good News.
What concerns me is the person who puts up those who have not heard as a “straw man” to defer on making a decision for Christ themselves. That person has heard and in the day of judgment will be held accountable if they have refused so great a salvation. You and I are called to respond on the basis of the light we have received. Ours is not the responsibility to understand everything about God and not to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord until we understand everything.
Don't let the question, "What happens to those who have never had a chance to hear?" stand in the way of your decision as one who has had the opportunity.