Will the Heathen Hear of Christ?
By C. O. Cushman
WILL the millions who have died without a knowledge of Christ or the Gospel, have an opportunity sometime of hearing the wonderful plan? Did Christ die for all? Wouldn't it be unjust to destroy those who could not hear, who had not a chance? Does not Christ desire that none shall perish, but that all should come to repentance? These and other questions are often asked by those who do not study principles. They are important questions, and demand our careful consideration. They are important because God has revealed just how it is, and everything He has revealed it is our duty to search out. Some who ask these questions, believe that God will give the heathen an opportunity of accepting Christ during the millennium, they say, while He reigns on the earth with His saints in their immortal state. But this would be compelling acceptance. Would it be just, under those circumstances, to compel the wicked to accept or reject Christ without faith? Such a step would be contrary to God's plan and man's free choice. Really, has God hidden the Gospel from any in this life, in order that He could bring them under more favorable conditions for knowing Him with the redeemed in their glorified state? Who would not accept Him then, that is, till the selfish heart demanded more? We often hear men say, If I could see Him I would believe on Him. But many saw Him and did not believe. All the wicked will acknowledge Him in the day when He comes; but they will be lost, for there is no change to the Master's character. The facts of the case are these: If, therefore, the heathen are saved, they, with the rest of the redeemed, will be caught up to meet the Lord when He comes; for nothing will take place on earth during the one thousand years in the way of salvation. At the expiration of that period the wicked who have long been dead, and those who perished in the brightness of Christ's coming, when He took His people to Himself (2 Thess. 2: 1-8), shall be destroyed (Rev. 20: 7-15). When Christ comes, those who are righteous will remain righteous, and those who are wicked will remain wicked. Rev. 22: 11, 12. The righteous will be saved by their faith and works, and the wicked will be lost because they have rejected Christ the Light. 3. To all God gives opportunity. All good gifts come from the Father of Lights. James 1: 17. To every one comes the Light "that lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1: 9. It may be faint or dim, but it is always sufficient for the soul to choose. For that measure of light and opportunity we are responsible, whether we believe it or not, and for it will we be held accountable. "If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." 2 Cor. 4: 3. The man who received the one talent, did not improve it, thus hiding it, and was cast out. We hide the Gospel by not yielding to its power. We turn from the true Light, and are left in darkness. We cherish the sins we know, and are lost. Many a heathen has followed the one ray of light till he has reached the Sun of Righteousness. Altho he knew nothing of the person of Jesus, he followed the best he saw of the plan of Christ. Observing the things visible, tho he can not know the invisible, he will be "without excuse" in the day of the Lord's reckoning. Rom. 1: 18-22. All will be held responsible for the amount of light they have. "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." Luke 12: 48. "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves." Rom. 2: 14. No paraphrase could make the text clearer than the next verse does: "Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another." We need not trouble ourselves about the prospects of the heathen. He will receive absolute justice with the rest of mankind. We are held responsible for the way we use the light which shines upon our pathway.