Richardson gives the example of the Incas. Pachacuti (sometimes spelled Pachacutec) ruled as king of South America's incredible Inca civilization from A.D. 1438 to 1471. Pachacuti brought the Inca empire to its finest moments of achievement. Besides the incredible "hidden" fortress of Machu Picchu that Pachacuti built as a "middle class suburb" for escape from the Spaniards, Pachacuti was one of the great spiritual explorers who turned his people from worshipping the unknown God to the God of creation.

     The Incas worshipped the sun but when the revelation came to Pachacuti that the sun shined on some but not all he realized that the sun was a created thing. That the Incas had been worshipping creation not the creator was a revolutionary idea. Pachacuti wrote that the "luminary always follows a set path, performs definite tasks, and keeps certain hours as does a laborer." The question that perplexed him was, "if the sun is god why does the sun not do anything original?" He also noted that "the solar radiance can be dimmed by any passing cloud." If Inti (the sun god) were truly God no mere created thing could dim his light, he thought.

    Within the Inca tradition was the story of Viracocha - the Lord, the omnipotent Creator of all things. When Pachacuti came to his realization that they had been worshipping the wrong god, he had to look no further than his own culture. The Apostle Paul used this idea to preach to the Romans at the temple dedicated to the "unknown God" (Acts 17)

In Acts 14: 16-17 he explains this truth of every nation's search, "..let all nations go their own way. Yet God has not left himself without testimony."

     The Incas had actually been aligned with the supreme God, Viracocha, in their past but all that remained during Pachacuti's lifetime was an abandoned shrine located in the upper Vilcanota Valley. After his revelation of truth, Pachacuti remembered that his own father had worshipped this God and had claimed to receive counsel from Viracocha in a dream. The dream revealed that Viracocah was truly the Creator of all things.

    Pachacutie decided that his father had rediscovered something basic and genuine, but had simply not taken the discovery as far as it deserved to go. He resolved that he, as his father's son, would take the reality his father had touched on to greater lengths. A God who created all things, Pachacuti concluded, deserves worship! Pachacuti came to a firm decision - this Inti-as-God nonsense had to go. He took action. He called a congress of the priests of the sun and made his proclamation:

1. Inti cannot be universal if, while giving light to some, he withholds it from others.

2. He cannot be perfect if he can never remain at ease, resting.

3. Nor can he be all powerful when the smallest cloud may cover him.

     Pachacuti then listed the attributes of the one and only God, Viracocha: "He is ancient, remote, supreme, and uncreated. Nor does he need the gross satisfaction of a consort. He manifests himself as a trinity when he wishes...otherwise only heavenly warriors and archangels surround his loneliness. He created all peoples by his word as well as all spirits. He is man's Fortunus, ordaining his years and nourishing him. He is indeed the very principle of life, for he warms the folk through his created son, Punchao. He is a bringer of peace and an order. He is in his own being blessed and has pity on men's wretchedness. He alone judges and absolves them and enables them to combat their evil tendencies. Pachacuti then commanded that Inti from that time forward be respected as a "kinsman" only - a fellow created entity. Prayer was to be directed to Viracocha with the deepest awe and humility. Pachacuti composed reverent hymns to Viracocha, which rival the psalms of the Bible.

     How unfortunate then that when Pizarro and Cortez came as conquerors from Spain, they couldn't understand that the now monotheistic Inca's were prepared for the gospel of Christ. They destroyed this awesome civilization, justifying their actions in the name of God. Where were the missionaries that could have connected Viracocha to the God of the Bible? It is a true thing; God has only one plan - Plan A - those of us who are called by His Name. If we don't go and share the good news, how could the Incas, and other people groups hear? The Inca's search for the one, true God drives this point home.

To read more startling evidence of the belief in the One True God in hundreds of cultures throughout the world, order Don Richardson's book, "Eternity in Their Hearts," from Regal Books at 1-800-4-GOSPEL.