Repentance Before Grace

Let grace be shown to the wicked,
Yet he will not learn righteousness;
In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly,
And will not behold the majesty of the LORD.  Isaiah 26:10

Another argument against universal salvation is this message given to Isaiah. To the unrepentant sinner, grace is as though nothing happened. That which Christ Jesus gave His life to obtain for us is cast on the scrapheap by those who refuse to repent of their evil ways. Even if such a one were to enter into Heaven, his ways would remain unjust. 

Now there is a thought that refuses to come easily. Try to imagine being the only evil person in Heaven, right there under God's all-seeing gaze. Not like here where there is some veil or distance between us and the blessed lands, but right there where that person could turn and see the throne of God Himself. Talk about being the odd one out! And it would be so much worse as the guilt and shame could hardly be measured with perfected ones all around, living forever in the grace of God and in perfect righteousness, while you alone cower as the only unsaved one. Far better to repent of my way and obtain the wonderful grace of Christ the Lord right here in this world! 

Still doesn't compute though; no evil person will enter into God's Heaven. Just can't get the imagination to go there. Praise God for that! 

Bucky