It may be easy to overlook one key element concerning the eternal destiny of those who have never had access to God’s Word. That element involves God’s love and compassion for all the members of His human creation. While the Scriptures tell us that God extends mercy at His discretion (Romans 9:15), and is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11), they also highlight God’s compassion and concern for every human being.
Consider the following Biblical declarations…
“‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord GOD, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?'” (Ezekiel 18:23 NET).
“Should I not be even more concerned about Nineveh, this enormous city? There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as well as many animals!” (Jonah 4:11 NET).
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
Unlike human beings, who are often indifferent to others, these passages illustrate God’s concern for humanity. In addition, Psalm 145:8 tells us that God is gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, and great in mercy. The following verse then continues by saying, “The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.”
These passages direct our attention to God’s common grace, or the unmerited favor He bestows upon the just and unjust. Jesus reiterated this point in His Sermon on the Mount when He reminded us that God makes the sun to rise upon the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust as well (Matthew 5:44). Therefore, we must account for this key piece of information when addressing questions concerning the fate of the unevangelized.