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exists there—every soul filled with love, every countenance beaming
with joy, enrapturing music in melodious strains rising in honor of
God and the Lamb, and ceaseless streams of light flowing upon the
redeemed from the face of Him who sits upon the throne—could those
whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness, mingle
with the heavenly throng and join their songs of praise? Could they
endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation
were granted them that they might form characters for heaven, but they
have never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the
language of heaven, and now it is too late.
A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven. Its
purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God
would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy
place. They would welcome destruction that they might be hidden
from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the
wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is
voluntary with themselves and just and merciful on the part of God.—
The Great Controversy, 542, 543
(1888).
Yours May Be a Joyous Life—Let us all have confidence in God.
Press your way through the shadow which Satan throws across your
pathway and take hold of the arm of Jesus, the Mighty One. Let
your case rest in His hands. Let your prayer be, “Lord, I present my
petition to Thee. I put my trust in Thee, and I ask for the blessing that
Thou seest will be for my present and future usefulness and my eternal
good.” When you arise from your knees, believe! When the enemy
comes with his darkness, sing faith and talk faith, and you will find
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that you have sung and talked yourself into the light.
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (
Philippians
4:4
). Those who do this have a joyous life. No unpleasantness comes
from their lips or from the atmosphere surrounding the soul, for they do
not feel that they are better than others. Hide in Jesus Christ; then all
the time the truth of God will be fitting you up for the future, immortal
life. When you have confidence in the Mighty One, your experience is
not borrowed; it is your own.—MS 91, 1901.
Increasing Happiness Throughout Eternity—As through Jesus
we enter into rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation,
Come, learn of Me, and in thus coming we begin the life eternal.
Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. The longer