Remember, too, that it is very clearly revealed that an Atonement has
been made for "every man." Thus, a divine provision has been made for
every man Now the provision involves desire; and can the desire fail?
Under a perfect administration, therefore, how can there be endless
suffering?
Then if God gave His own Son, and if the Son gave Himself, for the
redemption of the world, will that Atonement fail of its effect in a
single case? Such a possibility is almost unthinkable.
Consider, also, that the possibility of eternal sin and suffering seems
to imply a failure of the divine administration; which is impossible.
Then, God is forever the same. If He is love, wisdom, power, justice,
mercy, now, He is the same through all eternity. At no future epoch,
therefore, can we conceive of the necessity of endless torment.
We have to remember too, that God rules in all worlds, and throughout
all time. Forever, and everywhere, "His counsel will stand, and He will
do all His pleasure."
It is an orthodox doctrine that God cannot suffer. But that does not
seem in harmony with the breathing of His sigh, "O that they were wise!"
or "How can I give thee up?" or the tears of Christ over the apostate
city. Now, if God is eternal Love, do not sin and suffering interfere
forever with His happiness? But normally we conceive of Him as the
infinitely happy One; therefore that normal condition requires that sin
and suffering be ultimately done away.
Then we have the fact that we are God's children; yes, even the most
debased of mankind. Paul could say to the idolaters of Athens, "We are
His offspring." Now, if we are really His children, and therefore
infinitely dearer to Him than our children are to us, will not the
present suffering of even one of us be a source of pain to the eternal
Father? On that ground we cannot think of suffering as being endless.
This is holy ground; let us tread it reverently.
Further; we read that Christ "lighteth every man that cometh into the
world." Now, if He loves every man, and atones for every man, and
enlightens every man, is it conceivable that He will not somewhere and
at some time save every man?
Likewise, we read that "the Spirit is given to every man." Is not that
the initial stage of redemption? Then will not redemption be completed?
Here we see but a very small part of the outgoings of Him who is from
everlasting to everlasting.
Then this larger view explains God's universal call. He says, "Look unto
me and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth." There we see God's
intention; and if it is not carried out in this life, will it not be in
the life to come? We are accustomed in our short-sightedness to think
that the dividing line of death is final. But with God it is not final.
It only marks the stage from one epoch to another.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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