Once in a bible class the question was asked, “What about people in remote areas who have never heard about Jesus Christ? Won’t they be saved?”

In our finite minds we can understand why one would ask this question. In our compassionate minds we can understand that it doesn’t seem fair to condemn someone who has never heard about the saving blood of Christ. But, let us search God’s word for our answer.

First of all, God loves the souls of all mankind (Jn. 3:16; I Jn. 4:9). He doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9). He wants to adopt us as His children (I Jn. 3:1). He wants to care for us and protect us just as a mother and father see to the needs and protection of their children. He knows we can understand this parent-child relationship and thus, desires that we understand His love for us.

Just as parents raise their children and give them instruction, God, too, gives us instruction as to how to conduct ourselves on this earth. He gives us stipulations that, if followed, will lead to the saving of our souls.

From the beginning of time God has desired obedience. When the prophet, Ezekiel, was in Babylonian captivity the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. “Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul” (Ezek. 33:8-9). We see here that Ezekiel had a huge responsibility!

Today Christ has given us the task of going into all the world to teach the message of redemption (Matt. 28:18-20). We, as parents, understand that if we don’t teach our own children about God’s plan of salvation we will be held accountable. And, if our children don’t obey they will be lost.

I would like to put a challenge before each of us to save the souls of mankind this year, as well as our own souls, by having the courage to tell others about Christ and His blood-bought church. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Will you take on this challenge?

–Becky Honeycutt