Is it not preeminently reasonable and just, apart from all theological predilection and early training, that man's gift of life should be made conditional, that its continuance should be subject to its proper use?
Think of it! Man in the beginning was brought into this world without any choice of his own. He was not asked as to whether he should be given existence or not. In the nature of the case he could not be.
God made him an intelligent, morally responsible creature. That is in his very nature. Man, selfish as he is in sin, holds himself to some extent responsible for his conduct, and his enemy to the fullest extent. God gave man that nature, with the power of choice. Man could choose the good and refuse the evil. He could walk the way of faith in God, or he could follow the way of self. He could be faithfully obedient to God, with ever expanding mind and increasingly happy existence; or he could pervert the beneficent laws implanted in his nature, and bring upon himself misery and trouble unceasing.
God knew that some of His creatures would choose the evil, would pervert the laws of life, would bring into bondage to a perverted lower nature the higher spiritual faculties. Yet to develop character, God's creatures must be given the power to choose. Surely it would be unwisdom to make such beings immortal; to doom those who chose the evil, to an existence of misery forever. Rather would it not be the supremest wisdom to make continued life dependent on continued obedience to all the laws of life?
In such a plan there can be no injustice. If man will not follow the way of life—righteousness—but chooses rather the way of selfishness and sin, by that very course he deprives himself of life. If he will not do that which makes for life, he is deprived of life. If he will follow God's way of righteousness and therein perfect character, eternal life and immortality are his forever.
Friends, readers, the conditional plan is God's plan. Nowhere in all His Word is immortality predicated or assumed of sinful beings. In Christ Jesus there is everlasting life to the child of faith, that life held by faith on its right use in character development. When Christ comes, all those who have forever chosen Him will be made immortal. There will be no ever-burning hell to mar God's ultimate universe. God's justice will be vindicated in earth's harvest, which bestows upon every soul the fruits of his reaping. In that great hour in the court day of God when sentence is pronounced, there will be no charge of injustice or unwisdom against God. The fruitage of the ages will demonstrate His wisdom, His justice, His love. All have had their choice.
In the meantime Infinite Love pleads with us: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal. 6:7-9.