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 What is the eternal destiny of those who live in extremely remote and secluded places and have no knowledge of Jesus Christ? Would a loving God really condemn someone to hell if they have never had a chance to hear the gospel? This is an emotionally difficult question, and when it comes to a question such as this, there is great temptation to think according to our feelings and what we would like to be true. But the biblical reality is that Jesus is the only way to salvation, there is no other way to achieve salvation except to call upon his name (Acts 4:12). Those who have never heard of the Gospel are still guilty of eternal punishment and are considered to be lost. Scripture teaches that those who have not heard the gospel are still “without excuse” because what can be known about God is clearly seen through creation. Romans 1:19-20 says “19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Also, Ecclesiastes 1:11 says that God has “put eternity into man's heart” essentially meaning that each human being has a deep and inner longing for eternity and an inner knowledge (whether they accept or reject it) that we are made for something more than what this world has to offer. So the issue at hand is not whether or not people have heard about Jesus, it’s whether or not they have chosen to respond and call upon the God who makes himself known, because his goodness and his power are revealed in creation.        

       Sin is serious and God is just. God is perfect and he has a perfect moral standard. Whether you are aware of your sinful nature or not, the reality is that every human being is a sinner and has fallen drastically short of God’s perfect nature. If there would be no punishment for breaking that, then God would not be a just God. He would be like a judge who declares everyone innocent when reality they are guilty. It is important to understand that God does not “send” anyone to hell, hell is the end result of a conscious decision made to reject God. C.S. Lewis once said “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” God will most certainly make himself known to those who earnestly seek him.        

       The natural revelation of God through his creation makes people aware of the awesome creator but it does not save. Putting your faith and trust in Jesus alone is the only way to be redeemed. This is why it is so important for us to take seriously our commission to “take the gospel to all nations” because there are people who do not know the gospel and they will eternally perish if they do not believe. Romans 10:14-15 says “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” People will not hear the gospel unless it is preached to them, and we must be urgent and diligent in doing what we can to take the gospel to the unreached masses of the world.