That Guy in the African Jungle
A question I think nearly every Christian wonders at one point in their life is - “What if someone never hears about Jesus? Like, what about some guy who lives in the most remote African jungle? What happens to him after he dies? Do he still go to hell?”
Let’s answer that question.
Colossians 1:23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
According to Colossians 1:23, the gospel is going to be preached to every creature. In other words, the gospel is going to be preached to every person. And what is the gospel? The gospel is the “good news” - the fact that Jesus Christ died on a cross for our sins, was buried, and resurrected; and that if we believe on him, we shall be saved.
Romans 10:18
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Romans 10:18 is another verse that assures us of that same promise. The gospel will go out into all the earth. No people group will be left untouched.
So we’ve found the answer to the question about the guy in the remote African jungle. Even he will get his chance to hear about Jesus Christ. God, somehow, someway, will send a missionary to his secluded village; and that African man, and his entire family, and his entire village, will get their chance to be saved.
Now let’s discuss why understanding this doctrine is so important. Let’s pretend for a moment that some people never got a chance to hear the gospel. And then, let’s pretend that God gave everyone who didn’t hear the gospel a free pass into heaven. What that would mean is that it would actually be in the best interest of all those people in the remote African jungle NOT to be sent a missionary. Why? Because if they remain untouched by the gospel, they all get a free pass into heaven. But if a missionary does reach that remote African village, some people are bound to believe the gospel, and some people are bound to reject it. If you think about it, the percentage of people going to heaven will actually DROP after being evangelized.
The truth is, however, that the gospel will reach every single last person on earth. No exceptions. And why is God so intent on ensuring that occurs?
Romans 14:10
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
The bible tells us that every person who ever lived will one day stand before the judgement seat of Christ. (This takes place in Revelation 20:11-15) God wants to make sure that, come judgement day, no unsaved person can claim ignorance. Nobody is going to be able to stand before Jesus and say, “I never knew. Nobody ever told me about you. Nobody ever told me how to get saved.” No. Every single unsaved person will have been preached the gospel (Colossians 1:23). Everyone single unsaved person will have had their chance to get saved. And if they’re unsaved before the judgement seat of Christ, that means they consciously rejected Christ. They rejected their one chance at salvation.
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15 is what is often times referred to as the “Great Commission” - Jesus Christ’s last commandment to his disciples before he ascended into heaven: go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And, as we just learned, that great commission is going to be fulfilled. The gospel will be preached to every creature. And, if you think about it, that enormous task is going to be accomplished, whether we assist in its completion or not.
Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
When I think about this doctrine that we went over today, for me personally, what it does is it motivates me. The gospel is going to go out; there is no doubt about that. The question becomes - are we going to help facilitate its spread, or are we going to sit back and relax, while others get the job done.
Nehemiah 3:5
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
And even if you’re not a soul winner yourself - you can still play a part in the action. When we read the book of Acts, not every person is a soul winner. But what we do see is people doing whatever they can to help the soul winners - such as Paul, Barnebas, Silas, and Timothy. Providing them with vitals. A place to lodge. Financial support. Transportation. Encouragement. Rest.
Really the question we all need to ask ourselves is - what can I personally do to help spread the gospel? Maybe I can knock some doors myself. Maybe I can give. Maybe I can lodge a missionary. Whatever resources and abilities God has given us, they can doubtless be used for the kingdom of God.
Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
When we as Christians stand before the judgement seat of Christ, we won’t need to worry about being punished for sins. Praise God - all of our sins are under the blood. But the truth is that certain Christians will receive greater rewards than others. And one of the things that will determine how large of a reward we get is - “What did I do to help the spread of the gospel?”
Let’s redeem the time. Let’s do what we can. Let’s get started now.
