On flipping through the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, in search of the nicest man who never knew the way to God - you will undisputedly find him in Acts Chapter 10. He hailed from Caesarea, a centurion (one who had a hundred Roman soldiers under his command), of what was known as the Italian cohort (Roman military unit) and his name was Cornelius. 

Acts 10:3-5 records that he was a devout man, who feared God with his whole household, gave alms liberally to the poor and prayed constantly to God in all sincerity. Broadly speaking, with all these four divine qualities in his life, what more was required of a man to inherit eternal life?  

God knew him, but he never knew the exact person of God and the way to eternal life. God sent an angel to his house all the way from heaven, to connect him to Apostle Peter, who at that time was camping at Simon the Tanner’s house in Joppa. By supernatural intervention, through messengers sent by him and at the behest of the Holy Spirit, Peter landed up in the house of Cornelius, who had eagerly invited all his kinsmen and friends to hear him. 

At the end of the meeting, the entire gentile audience got to know Christ the Saviour of mankind, His finished work on the Cross for man’s redemption - made a Covenant with God in the waters of Baptism and got connected to spiritual life through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Comforter). 

Within a quick span of time, God accomplished His work through Peter, to make Cornelius, his family, his relatives and friends, worthy of eternal life – which is only through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

Thought to ponder – Being good is not enough. Knowing that Jesus is the way and walking in it is the only way to eternal life.