Q:
I have always
been told if
a person dies
before the age
of accountability,
they automatically
go to heaven–
including aborted
babies and the
mentally handicapped.
Is there any
exact scriptural
evidence?
Answer:
We begin with
Part 2 of this
question which
has been debated
for centuries
and overcharged
with emotion.
Last week we
examined the
problem that
no scripture
explicitly addresses
this issue.
Today we consider
the personality
of God.
While
Jonah had no
heart concerning
the death of
120,000 children
in Nineveh,
God did. (See
Jonah 4:11.)
When God heard
the grumblings
of the Israelites,
who refused
to enter the
Promised Land,
He declared,
“Not one of
these men of
this evil generation
shall see this
good land. Moreover,
your little
ones who you
said would become
a prey, and
your sons who
have no knowledge
of good or evil,
shall enter,
and I will give
it to them”
(Deut 1:34‑39).
Thirty‑eight
years later
those children,
grown, crossed
over Jordan.
This
account raises
an important
question. Is
it possible
that an infant
born with a
sinful nature,
as we all are,
yet not having
committed sin
through an act
of his will,
could be subject
to physical
death but not
necessarily
be subject to
the penalty
of eternal spiritual
damnation? The
personal acts
of unrighteousness
on the part
of those Israelite
parents in Deuteronomy
are confirmable.
Their children,
who had no understanding
of right or
wrong, were
the ones who
entered the
land. God looked
on their heart.
(See 1Sam 16:7.)
For
adults to be
saved, they
must exercise
a personal faith
in Jesus Christ.
Babies are not
capable of fulfilling
this condition.
This is where
many have suggested
the age of accountability.
Only God knows
when an individual
becomes aware
of his responsibility
for disobedient
actions. There
again, this
is suggestive.
There are no
scriptures explicitly
addressing the
issue, but Deuteronomy
does show us
the merciful
heart of God.
In
Genesis 18 Abraham
spoke with the
Lord about the
coming destruction
of Sodom and
Gomorrah. As
he interceded
he asked the
rhetorical question:
“Will not the
Lord of all
the earth do
right?” God
demonstrated
His concern
for individual
souls by promising
not to destroy
these sinful
cities, if only
He could find
ten righteous
people. He couldn’t,
but it does
give us another
view into the
compassionate,
gracious and
concerned heart
of God.
And
He did remove
the righteous
before the fire
fell. (See 2Pet
2:7.)
We
have now examined
the problem
of sin, the
personality
of God, and
next week in
Part
3 we’ll peer
into the possibilities.
In closing,
the personality
of God is such
that, “A bruised
reed He will
not break, and
a dimly burning
wick He will
not extinguish.
He
will faithfully
bring forth
rightness (Isa
42:3).”
Reach
Pastor Huck
at calvarycorner.com
