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From Here to Forever
“No fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is
an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have
right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the
city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and
murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
Ephesians 5:5
, ARV;
Revelation 22:14, 15
.
God has given to men a declaration of His method of dealing
with sin. “All the wicked will he destroy.” “The transgressors shall
be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.”
Psalms
145:20
;
37:38
. The authority of the divine government will put down
rebellion, yet retributive justice will be consistent with the character
[333]
of God as a merciful, benevolent being.
God does not force the will. He takes no pleasure in slavish
obedience. He desires that the creatures of His hands shall love
Him because He is worthy of love. He would have them obey Him
because they have an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice,
and benevolence.
The principles of the divine government are in harmony with
the Saviour’s precept, “Love your enemies.”
Matthew 5:44
. God
executes justice on the wicked for the good of the universe and even
for the good of those on whom His judgments are visited. He would
make them happy if He could. He surrounds them with tokens of
His love and follows them with offers of mercy; but they despise His
love, make void His law, and reject His mercy. Constantly receiving
His gifts, they dishonor the Giver. The Lord bears long with their
perversity; but will He chain these rebels to His side, force them to
do His will?
Not Prepared to Enter Heaven
Those who have chosen Satan as their leader are not prepared to
enter the presence of God. Pride, deception, licentiousness, cruelty,
have become fixed in their characters. Can they enter heaven to
dwell forever with those whom they hated on earth? Truth will never
be agreeable to a liar; meekness will not satisfy self-esteem; purity
is not acceptable to the corrupt; disinterested love does not appear