The words were powerful and penetrating as he said, "Depart from me, I never knew you. You shall be cast into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." It is a painful thought to consider the rejection of the Heavenly Father. What horror it brings to our souls to think that there could come a time when we would no longer be recipients of His loving concern. How dark is the darkness, how lonely is the loneliness, and how distant is the distance of an eternity separated from God.

Living in this life under the influence of grace with God's daily benefits, we are prone to forget that "His spirit does not always strive with humankind." There is a day of judgement and to ignore it is to jeopardize our own future with God as well as our responsibilty to share that future with others. Because God alone knows the extent of eternal punishment, He has gone to great length to provide a way of escape. On this side of grace we have an awesome opportunity to make a positive response to our Lord's loving appeal. There is a tremendous advantage of being pursued by the Holy Spirit and encouraged by loving believers.

This spiritual courtship, however, does not last forever if there is nothing but continual rejection. God does not coerce his loving, saving grace upon us. In love He created us with freedom to pursue the path of life we choose to travel. He has no intention of putting heaven in our hearts if we are determined to serve the forces of hell. But oh, how He longs to be Master and Lord of everyone. How great is His grief when anyone refuses His blood stained offer of eternal life. There is no greater love than the love of the One who would lay down His life for a friend. "What a friend we have in Jesus!!"