Who Goes to Heaven?

Psalms 19:1
The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.


Last week in Sunday school, I brought up a question a middle-schooler asked me at work. Basically what happens to those people who have never heard of Jesus, what happens to them? This is a question many people, especially Christians probably wonder about.

In Sunday school, I did a poor job of answering the question. Today as I was reading the 19th Psalm, I was reminded me of part of the conversation I had with someone after Sunday school asking me about it.

Romans chapter 1 talks about God and His creation also and how creation reveals God and His nature. Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." I believe that what can be seen of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can be seen in God's creation. In the seasons, we see death, life, and rebirth (or resurrection if you wish). In our very own nature we see a moral law present from birth. We have a sense of what is right or wrong (whether it actually is or not is a different topic). If you disagree, I want to ask if you ave ever heard proclaim that something was not fair? They are showing that they have been wronged and thus have a sense of morality or right and wrong. In this we can also see consequences for doing wrong. When we are wronged we believe that we have the right to exact a bit of justice because we have been wronged.

So, having said that, I believe that a person who has never heard of Jesus Christ has enough light of God's nature in creation to be held accountable to God. I also believe that if they see and recognize these truths; that there is a right and wrong and that there is a consequence to breaking this law of morality, and if they throw themselves on the mercy of this creator whose name they do not know, I believe they will be saved. I also believe that this rarely, if ever, happens. I also believe that if it does happen, that God will send a witness to them to testify of the work of Jesus Christ on their behalf.

You may disagree with this and that is fine. I would just like to point out that Abraham never heard of Jesus and he was chosen of God. The issue here is that of faith. Abraham did not receive the promises of God based on what he did, but based on his faith in what God told him. Romans 4:13 says, "For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." It is faith that saves us, and if someone has enough faith to submit themselves to the mercy of the Creator based simply on what he sees in creation, I believe that God will justify this man.

Whatever light we have been given, let us place our faith in the mercy of the One who made all that we see.