Surely, we would not wish them back again!

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(J.C. Ryle, "Christ's Greatest Trophy!" 1879)

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise!" Luke 23:43

The very moment that believers die, they are in paradise. Their battle is fought; their strife is over. They have passed through that gloomy valley which we must one day tread; they have gone over that dark river which we must one day cross. They have drunk that last bitter cup which sin has mingled for man; they have reached that place where sorrow and sighing are no more! Surely, we would not wish them back again! We should not weep for them--but for ourselves!

We are still warring--but they are at peace!
We are laboring--but they are at rest!
We are watching--but they are sleeping!
We are wearing our spiritual armor--but they have forever put it off!
We are at sea--but they are safe in harbor!
We have tears--but they have joy!
We are strangers and pilgrims--but they are at home!
Surely, better are the "dead in Christ"--than the living! Surely the very hour the poor saint dies--he is at once higher and happier than the happiest upon earth!

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Surely, the very devils will laugh that sinner to scorn to all eternity!

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(James Smith, "Sunny Subjects for All Seasons" 1858)

"God has given to us eternal life--and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11

What a wonderful display of divine benevolence is this! What an extraordinary exhibition of sovereign love--to rebel sinners such as we are!

"You will not come to Me, that you might have life!" John 5:40. Rejectors of Christ are ungrateful, inexcusable and suicidal. How can we properly represent the blackness of that ingratitude which refuses to come to Jesus for eternal life! Surely, surely, no one can pity the sinner who dies because he will not receive a pardon--because he will not have eternal life!

Sinner, if you perish--you are a suicide! You die by your own hand! You die because you will not come to Jesus, and have eternal life. Such conduct must certainly be inexcusable. Surely, the very devils will laugh that sinner to scorn to all eternity, who goes to hell from beneath the sound of the everlasting gospel.
He would not have eternal life!
He would not go to heaven!
There was the gate--but he would not pass through it.
There was the road--but he would not travel it.
There was eternal life offered--but he would not have it.
He would go to hell.
He was determined to do so.
He chose death and damnation in his erroneous way.
He would not be stopped, either by the invitations of divine mercy, or the threatenings of divine wrath!

No offer of eternal life was ever made to devils, after they had fallen; so, that they are more excusable in one sense than the sinner who perishes, because he will not come unto Jesus, and have life.

What a thought is this! There is an enormity about the sin of rejecting eternal life by Christ--not even to be found in the sin of devils!

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