The Fate of the Impenitent Dead
By G.
Now.—Consigning wicked men to heaven when they die, by some perverted idea of God's mercy, is the veriest absurdity. It may ease the minds of their friends temporarily, and it may hold out a false hope to ease the consciences of their kind. But it can do no good to the one who has died impenitent. Nor can any number of prayers or any amount of money or other sacrifice avail after the heart has ceased to beat. No sinful man could live a second in the immediate presence of God; and the dead have passed the probationary time when pardon is available. The dead can not exercise faith in Christ (Eccl. 9:5, 6), and there is no other means of making peace with God. Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:1; 1 John 5:11, 12. Nor would it make the impenitent man any better to place him in heaven, even if he could exist there. "Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord." Adam fell while surrounded by heavenly companions, and having personal acquaintance with the Creator. Judas was the trusted companion of the perfect One, with the grandest opportunity ever offered to man for learning to do right. Yet he betrayed his Saviour. If men will not accept the salvation of Christ here, their opportunity is gone forever. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. G.