BIBLE READING: Genesis 18:16-33
TEXT: Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)
I love the story of Abraham pleading with the Lord for Sodom and Gomorrah. God has just told him that the sin of these two cities was so great that he was going to destroy them. Abraham is concerned that innocent people will be swept away. Fair enough says the Lord…if there are fifty righteous people?….But says Abraham, as he begins to haggle as though he were bargaining in a market, what if there are five less than fifty?….and so on until he gets down to ten.
Abraham’s plea was based upon one very important fact – “Will not the judge of all the earth do right?”. That should be our starting and finishing point when we discuss this. God will do right. Right is what God does. The idea that we can sit in judgement upon God is a wicked one. He is the righteous one. We are not.
So what about babies who die before they have a chance to hear the Gospel? Let’s consider the story of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. After David and Bathsheba had committed adultery they had a child who became ill. David mourned, fasted and prayed for the child. But the child died. The servants were scared to tell him because they were worried how he would react. However, when he found out he got up, got washed and seemed to go back to normal life. Why are you acting this way? They wondered. He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23). David was certain that he would go to his child.
Although the Bible tells us that all human babies are born in sin, yet it also says that the dead are judged according to what they have done (Revelation 20:12). My view is that this means that the blood of Jesus also covers the sins of those who die in infancy, before they have had the chance to do anything right or wrong. I once had to bury an 18-month-old child – who had died from a cot death. When you stand beside that tiny white coffin, with the weeping parents in front of you, there is no way that you think that this child has gone to hell, purgatory or limbo (as some churches teach). Surely the mercy and blood of Christ extends to these little ones?
But what about those who have not heard? Again we work on the principle that the judge of all the earth will do right. God is not going to judge people for not believing in a Christ of whom they have never heard! However the Bible tells us that people are judged according to the light they have and what they have done with that light. Romans 1:18-23 makes it very clear that that light is sufficient for them to know God’s eternal power and divine nature – and yet they still continue to sin against that light. They need to hear about Jesus – not to save them from the sin of rejecting a Christ of whom they have never heard, but to save them from their sin against the God whom they do know, and whose law is written in their hearts. All people, throughout the entire world, need a Saviour. Which is why Jesus is the Saviour of the whole world.
Let’s return to the basic foundation for answering and thinking about these kinds of questions. God is the judge of all the earth. He is righteous, good and just. As such he will do right. Our real question is not what God has done about others, but what we have done with the knowledge and understanding that we have of him. We must seek the Lord while he can be found.
CONSIDER: We know that God can do nothing wrong. The key question is what we do with what we know of God. Why do you think it is important to both examine yourself and to desire to tell others?
RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING: This article from John Piper is a clear explanation to a 12 year old girl….
https://www. desiringgod.org/articles/what-about-those-who-have-neverheard
PRAYER: Lord God, you are the judge of all the earth and you will always do right. When we are tempted to doubt your goodness help us to remember that. Give us the boldness of Abraham in praying for others. Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon your people. Have mercy upon our families and communities. O Lord, have mercy upon your world, in the name and for the sake of Jesus, Amen.
Suicide – Do People Go To Heaven If They Commit Suicide? – A.S.K 21
I’ve heard reports that people are unable to get A.S.K because it is sold out…however I understand that it is being reprinted soon….!
You can order A.S.K from Amazon UK, US or Australia
Or better still go into your local bookshop and order it….there are bulk discounts as well from Ten of Those
If you have read the book and would like to review it – can I encourage you to do so on Amazon. The more the merrier….
Hey David, I dont think the Piper link is working. I have tried to access it on a couple of devices, on the wifi and on the data chips with no luck. The other links appear to be working. Just wanted to pass this on.
No need to post this as a comment, I just wanted to let you know.
Thanks…fixed..
Hello,
Enjoyed the read. God is good 🙂 Thank you for posting this.
I also had issues with the link.. tried refreshing, and still not working for me. I think there is a space before Desiring God which is messing with it, as well a missing dash between “never heard”
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-about-those-who-have-never-heard
Hope this helps!
A brother from Canada
Gen 18:25 has been one of my “favourite” texts for many years. The one thing of which I am certain is that all of those who will spend eternity in the Father’s presence will do so by grace. Nothing depends on ‘me’; all is of Him. Hallelujah!
Or as the Second Vatican Council put it:
16. Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God.(18*) In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh.(125) On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.(126) But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things,(127) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved.(128) Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.(19*) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel.(20*) She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator.(129) Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, “Preach the Gospel to every creature”,(130) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention.
(Dogmatic Constitution of the Church)
Some within the Catholic Church have concentrated on one part of that statement to decide that just about everybody apart from Hitler and Stalin are going to Heaven. Others have looked at the whole statement and have noted that “often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:21, 25.) Hence the vital task of evangelisation.