Last night I was reading "The Great Controversy", a book that my husband picked up at a library book sale. It was written in the 1880s. There is a lot of good Christian insight, although I don't agree with everything. This passage stood out to me last night. The second half about those who have refused God is the more moving part, but I thought the whole paragraph was needed for context.

Could those whose lives have been spent in rebellion against God be suddenly transported to heaven and witness the high, the holy state of perfection that ever 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 sitteth upon the throne, --could those whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness, mingle with the heavenly throng and join theri 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.

#Grownostr #christian #saved #redeemed #choice #just