How?

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14).

Romans is a complex book, but at its heart is one key theme: the power of the gospel. This good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection that brings repentant sinners into a relationship with God fills Paul’s thoughts as he writes, driving his argument that we were made for God and can now rejoice in our restored relationship with Him.

This news of Jesus is good news for all the world. But still, more people than not are living without any knowledge whatsoever of who Jesus is, much less of what He has done for them. By nature, human beings are wicked. It’s not only those who live in Christianized nations that fall under the wrath of God, because we have access to His Word and should know better. All people know the difference between right and wrong, and still all people choose to do wrong. We’ve all rebelled against God. We all deserve His wrath.

But there is a way out! If we believe in Jesus, we are saved. It’s so profoundly simple! Yet people are perishing, simply because no one’s ever told them about this. We walk past people every day who have never grasped that Jesus’ sacrifice is for them, if indeed they’ve even heard about it.

Paul’s question in Romans 10 is convicting. People need to call on Jesus for rescue, but why would they call on someone they don’t even believe in? Yet how can they believe in Him if no one will tell them about Him?

People are dying, and we’re letting them because we’re so often too afraid to speak.

May God break our hearts for those who are dead without Him!