What is the destiny of our forefathers who passed away without hearing the gospel?
Answer: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? – Genesis 18:25.
Truth: We can do NOTHING about our past, nor can we do anything about anyone else’s past! The truth is that we ONLY have control over this one PRESENT moment, whether we will NOW choose to believe in Jesus Christ as God has commanded.
– Matthew 17:5 “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
We can not do anything about our forefathers or past generations. We leave them in the hands of our perfect Creator who will perfectly deal with everyone born into this world with perfect love, mercy and justice.
For you and for me and everyone who reads or hears these truths, it is infinitely and eternally more important to know whether you, personally, believe in Jesus Christ. All of us have heard. All of us are without excuse. Not only is this the most important question we will ever face, but your choice to either believe or reject God’s truth about His Son will also greatly affect your children and any future generations.
God is PERFECT in all His ways and all His attributes. His love is just as perfect as His mercy and His Justice. It is impossible for God NOT to apply perfect love, mercy and justice in His every dealing with mankind and angels.
Most believe that the Book of Job is the earliest writing in the compiled and assembled Scriptures.
Job knew about God and God’s plan of redemption, reconciliation and salvation of lost men and women. How did Job know? Just as God declared Creation, Conscience [- Romans 1:20] and men like Melchizedik [-Genesis 14:18].
God declared this truth about the coming Redeemer in Genesis 3:15 and has NEVER stopped declaring this truth to all humanity.
Job firmly declared his understanding: For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,
It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie. What is stated in Romans MUST BE TRUE for all people in every generation since Adam and Eve. – Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
Paul through the Holy Spirit declared in Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”
– Romans 1:18-25 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Thus, all our forefathers, including Job, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and including the forefathers of you sweet listeners today are responsible for what you see and hear of God’s revelation to every man and every heart. This, of course, is true for every person of our own generation.
Abraham was praying to the Lord for his nephew Lot when he learned the Lord was about to destroy the city Lot lived in.
- Genesis 18:24-28 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”
Abraham continued to ask the Lord for His mercy until he got the number down to 10 souls. Did Abraham reason to himself that there must be at least 10 righteous people in Sodom?
Genesis 18:32-33 Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.
- Genesis 19:12-17 Then the men [angels] said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”
- 2 Peter 2:6-8 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—
- Genesis 15:6 And he [Abraham] believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
- Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Will you now believe and trust in Jesus? Your children are precious to you and to us. Will you teach them to trust Jesus?
If you do tell your children about Jesus and they believe in Him, you will not have to worry about future generations wondering what happened to you after your physical death. They will know you are in heaven!
We are praying for you that you will be able to gratefully say with Paul upon your own death:
- 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Read: I Believe!
All our love to All, In Christ –
Jon + Philis + Friends @ WasItForMe.com
