When the Law is Unknown

As I cruised into the town that I rarely drive through, I noticed the speed limit sign and was aware that I was not obeying it exactly. The temptation to shrug my shoulders and ignore it came, as did the scene where I was explaining to the policeman that I wasn't from around these parts and didn't rightly know the speed limit. Surely he would let me off with a warning and wouldn't give me a ticket for speeding when I didn't "know" I was speeding. As quickly as these thoughts came to me, I dismissed them. After all, I had seen the sign. Even if I hadn't seen it, it was still there. I was held accountable to it.

These thoughts reminded me of God, His law, and the people He creates.

I have often heard people question how God will judge those who have never heard or understood the Gospel; surely God couldn't punish them in their ignorance! How can they believe something they've never heard and understood? God will surely have mercy on them, they say.

But will He?

I have asked questions about this topic on more than one occasion because it just doesn't seem fair to me that innocent people will be punished for not knowing something (and this causes a passion to well up within me for people, myself included, to go to these people to tell them. But that could be another sermon blog post.) but I saw the truth in stark reality at that moment while cruising through town. 

Even though it seems somehow harsh, it is only right. Just like the police officer would not be sympathetic to me just because I did not know the speed limit, God must judge people according to the law; even those who do not know it.

I write this, aware of how cold and hard I may sound to some who do not believe this truth about God. But my heart is far from being cold about this fact. Rather, it is only burdened all the more for those who yet need the Gospel brought to them.

Let us go. Let us tell them. Let us not be held responsible for not telling them before its too late that God has a law, that Jesus saves, and that eternal life is found in Him!

They need to know.