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I do disagree with your interpretation of this verse, Mrs. Don-o.

Scripture is emphatic that one must be born again of the Holy Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. This is why evangelism is so important. Believers play a role in bringing the news to others, even if they reject it.

Christ is most certainly the true light of the world (Savior), but many will reject Him. The Buddhists in the commercials qualify as lovely human beings by the world’s standards, but by God’s standard, since they have not accepted the One He sent, they have not believed what God has made clear in His word (in other words, they have gone the way they think is best in their own eyes), then they are not part of Him and will not see the kingdom of God.

God does provide a way for every single person to hear His truth, and even at the end of this age angels will go forth across the earth preaching the Good News to all nations and then the end will come. No one will ever be able to say they have not been told the way to enter heaven.

Once Jesus returns at the Second Coming and sets up His kingdom in Jerusalem during the Millennial Reign, there will still be those who reject Him, going their own way. So even the presence of the Holy One Himself, coming in the clouds with great glory and His saints (believers) and establishing His earthly kingdom and reigning in peace for 1000 years, will STILL not be enough for some to accept Him. He is the light but some will always choose the darkness.

That says a lot about the heart of a man. We are bent on ourselves and what we think is best. Some, who truly seek Him, will know Him. For others, even up close and in your face will not be enough.

I guess the verse about the fear of the Lord is what sums it up best. I know how agonizing just getting thru this life is and I am not about to play fast and loose with my soul. I have always had a fear of the Lord, fearful enough of what this life and the next would offer, that I knew I never wanted to be without Him.

This trait is not in everyone though and a lot of people live their lives with no fear of anything or anyone. Paul comes to mind, rampaging thru the villages and towns persecuting and murdering Christians, until Jesus Himself burst in on him on the road to Damascus. I certainly needed no experience of that sort to believe, but others do. What I honestly wonder is how anyone, face to face with Him, could reject Him. The phrase, it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God, is one I do not want. I was never willing to go there.

I am also reminded of Paul’s desire to go to Asia and preach the Gospel but God said no. That tells me that God is well aware of what is going on there and of the many false religions and will deal with them when He is ready.

http://www.thebereancall.org/content/why-did-god-forbid-gospel-asia

Here is a good explanation regarding how everyone will know or hear of the way to God. I sure hope it does not all run together when posted.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/iyf/advice/faithdoubt/8c1046.html

What if people never hear about Jesus?

If Jesus is the only way to heaven, what happens to those who never get to hear about him?

Dear Dawson, I know the Bible says that knowing Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. But there are people in remote parts of the world who may never get a chance to hear about God or Jesus. What happens to them when they die?

You’re right, the Bible is clear that apart from Christ, you can’t go to heaven. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

How does this apply to someone who never hears the gospel? The Bible says, “The truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God” (Romans 1:19-20, New Living Translation).

No one has an excuse for not knowing God. That knowledge comes to us naturally—much like the way we instinctively reach for water when we’re thirsty. It’s not something we have to learn.

And it’s not just instinct that draws people to God. God uses visual aids too—his creation. We can see God through the divine design of nature.

When someone responds to these instincts and “visual aids” and truly reaches out to God, God will make sure that person understands his or her need for Christ. God, who loves us beyond comprehension and wants everyone to go to heaven (2 Peter 3:9), will arrange the details for that person to know the gospel—through a missionary, a tract, a Bible, whatever.

You might think, But what if a missionary never visits that island, or a tract never falls into those hands. What then? If those things never happen, we can be assured that God, who is loving and just, is still in control. God is sovereign, and he will always do what is right.

God is an awesome God, and nothing will stop him from getting the good news to even the most remote parts of the world, “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And as if to prove it, God even gave John a glimpse of heaven, where he saw people “from every tribe and language and people from every nation” (Revelation 5:9).

The bottom line: God is obviously able to reveal the truth about himself to anyone, anywhere. But he often uses us to do it. That’s why Jesus’ last words to us were instructions to tell everyone, everywhere, the good news of God’s love (Matthew 28:19-20).

God calls all of us to share his love with the people around us. Maybe he’s even calling you to take this good news “to the ends of the earth.” Wouldn’t that be exciting?

God bless,
jodyel