Key 5: God Often Hears the Unconverted

Key 5: God Often Hears the Unconverted

An important  aspect of the above point about being merciful and forgiving others is the need to humbly realize that God often hears even the prayers of completely unconverted  individuals who cry out to Him. Of course we know that God has said: “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened,  That it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden  His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1–2).

It is certainly  true  that  God will virtually never hear those who are sinning and in a wrong attitude. But, there are millions of sincere people who think they are truly worshiping  God and are simply deceived. God Himself has allowed this!  And in His inspired  Word, God explains that it is “the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Also, Jesus Christ tells us very clearly: “No one can come to Me unless the Father  who s e n t   M e  d r a w s  h i m ;  a n d   I  w i l l  r a i s e  h i m   u p   a t   t h e last day” (John 6:44). If you wish more information  on this vital topic, please write us or call us and request  a free copy of our eye-opening booklet, Is This the Only Day of Salvation?

It is very important  that  we do not self-righteously  assume that  God only hears the prayers of those who are converted  and are obeying Him. Again, what about those sincere people who are not yet called? And what about you and me before we were called and converted? As I look back on my own life, I definitely remem- ber several times when God absolutely intervened in answer to my prayers. He was “calling” me. He was beginning to reveal Himself to me as a “real” God by intervening  in my life. He has done and will do the same for many, many others all over the world.

Remember the story of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke

18:9–14: “Also He spoke this  parable  to some who trusted  in themselves  that  they were righteous,  and despised  others:  ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus  with himself, “God, I thank  You that  I am not  like other  men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather  than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,  and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

So the Creator will often hear the prayers of weak or spiritual- ly blinded people who humbly pray to Him. He will not hear them if they knowingly disobey Him or are in a wrong attitude.  He will not hear those who directly pray to idols or to false “gods.” But our merciful Father will hear those who—though  ignorant  of His full revelation—sincerely  cry out to Him as the Creator  and the true God.

The above understanding is beautifully  expressed  in Psalm 107:23–24, 27–31: “Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.… They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken  man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,  and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that  men would  give thanks  to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

We all know of vain, disobedient or even “worldly” professing Christians  who frankly “brag” about answered prayer or tell wild stories of constant  “miracles” in their  churches  or in their  lives. This religious boasting and even falsifying is a real detriment  to true  Christianity  and could easily be a stumbling  block to those being called who see through  this sham. But, if your friend or neighbor  sincerely and heartfeltly prays to the God of heaven, he or she may be heard because God knows that their  ignorance  of His ways is not deliberate and that their sincerity is very real.