PER:Eternity In Their Hearts  by Don Richardson

   Publisher/Location: Regal Books, Ventura, Ca.; 223 pages. 1981.

   Content summary: The main theme of the book deals with instances
in history and around the world that show how the hearts of men have
been in some way prepared for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The title is
taken from Ecclesiastes 3:11 which says that God has set eternity in
the hearts of men. The book is divided into two main sections: the
first dealing with a world prepared for the gospel and the latter
dealing with the gospel prepared for the world.

   Evaluation: Mr. Richardson has taken the subject of Christian
missions and has approached it in a new and interesting way.

   The first part of the book is especially interesting as he outlines
numerous occasions of primitive people seemingly prepared for the truth
of the gospel as found in the Christian scriptures. The author
testifies to what appear to be extra-biblical revelations directed at
what he calls "peoples of the vague God." These different groups of
people have each been uniquely prepared for the truth of Christ through
visions, folklore, and traditions. Mr. Richardson points out that the
common concept of the "sky god" found in many folk religions tends to
draw near and speak to folk religionists whenever they are about to
receive news or missionaries of the true Christian God.

   The author is fully aware of the position of some theologians
regarding this type of revelation. He acknowledges that some have
taught that the gospel's uniqueness was being threatened by such
folklore. He further points out that many have taught us to condemn
such lore as "counterfeit" or as "distortion." However, it is his
belief that Satan's strategy has been to try to superimpose formal
religions (such as Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Hinduism) over
folk religions before the gospel arrives, in order to prevent the
native monotheism in the vast majority of folk religions from
fulfilling its amazing role as an ally of the gospel.

   Another interesting section of the book deals with strange customs
of people throughout the world. Many of these customs have provided a
means of communicating the truth of the gospel to cultures totally
unfamiliar with the Christian concept of redemption.

   An ideal example of this relationship is given when the author
recounts his personal experience with the Sawi people of New Guinea.
These severely uncivilized people had a unique way of making peace
among their many warring tribes. The custom involved a father offering
his son to another group as a "Peace Child," thereby pacifying their
treacherous behavior and resolving past conflicts and grievances. Mr.
and Mrs. Richardson were able to use this custom as an analogy to the
offering of Christ for the atonement of the world.

   In the latter half of the book, the author strives to show how the
gospel is prepared for the world. He places special emphasis on the
Abrahamic covenant and its relationship to modern evangelistic
principles, especially worldwide missions. One of the promises of the
Abrahamic covenant states that "...all peoples on earth will be blessed
through you (Abraham)." Mr. Richardson adamantly and successfully
points out that this portion of the covenant is as yet unfulfilled and
can only be fulfilled through the missionary and evangelistic endeavors
of individual Christians. He indicates that the Abrahamic covenant is
the backbone of special revelation, and any teaching which does not
acknowledge this fact is deficient.

   The obvious intent of the book is to motivate Christians to a
greater participation in worldwide evangelism. Sufficient evidence is
provided to show that the world is indeed prepared for the gospel, and
the Abrahamic covenant can be fulfilled, if Christians will just
respond to the commission of Christ to preach the gospel to all
nations. G) Recommendations: Given the obvious missionary emphasis of
the book, I feel that the book would be of great value to any person
committed to missions and the furtherance of the gospel.

   The work would also be recommended to all Chris- tians, with the
hope that it would convince them of the importance of the Great
Commission and the readiness of the world for the gospel of Christ.

   Mr. Richardson concludes the book with the encouragement that we can
bring God's 4,000 year old promise to reality if individual Christians
will all do their part. I would have to agree with him is saying: WE
CAN DO IT!

   Compliments of the Manna System
