I was recently asked a question at work by my Christian co-worker (Christian...a term used loosely and I pretty much don't want to be associated with). She asked what about people in remote villages that can't hear about Jesus, how will they be saved. I answered with Romans 1:18-20, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 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 also said, we are judged according to what we know. "To whom much is given, much is required."
Then she asked me about Baptism, "Well, if they don't have the bible they won't know to be baptized, so how will they get to heaven."
I was taken aback.
I almost said, who careas about baptism!!?? But I know it is good. I told her the whole shin-dig about baptism, how it's an expression of proclaiming your faith publicly. We had to get back to work, but then I just couldn't stop thinking about her question. It broke my heart. And I believe it broke Jesus' heart.
I can feel Jesus' heart breaking when people think like that. The mercy of God is so vast, so overwhelming, so immense we can't even understand it or explain it. Jesus is longing, with tears streaming down His face, wanting to be with His people...but they are caught up in distractions like baptism... something that was meant to bring us closer to Him, but it is now a blockade.
I can see some of His heart, crying, grieving, in Matthew 18:6, "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
How many times have I questioned the mercy of God when it comes to the broken, homeless, hopeless? I think, "How can they fully come to know You, Jesus?" Or I question if people do know Him cause they are still stuck in sin... But God's mercy is greater. In Luke 23:40-43 we see true salvation, the true reality of "how to get to heaven"... "One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, 'Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!' But the other answered, and rebuking him said, 'Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' And he was saying, "JESUS, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM!' And He said to him, "TRULY I SAY TO YOU, TODAY YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.'"
The mercy of God is that none would die without a chance to cry out in the midst of drowning, dying in the consequences of our sinful deeds. Jesus accepts all that cry out to Him, all that ask to be with Him. I find it interesting that both the criminals believed Jesus was the Christ, but only one of them repented of his sin and asked to be with Jesus. I want to give mercy to everyone I meet, like Jesus gave mercy to me. I want to stop looking and analyzing every little thing about peoples lives, and give mercy. Mercy to hunt for, look for, ask for, search for, try to find, seek after JESUS and Him alone. To know Jesus and be with Him now and for ever in Paradise.