“I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.” This promise is only for those who are thirsty. “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:6, 7.) This text also specifies conditions. To inherit all things, we must overcome sin.
“It will not be well with the wicked” (Ecclesiastes 8:13). The
sinner is treasuring up for himself “wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to
each one according to his deeds,’” “tribulation and anguish, on every
soul of man who does evil” (Romans 2:5, 6, 9).
“No fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have
the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into
the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral
and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
(Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:14, 15.)
God has given us a clear statement of how He will deal with
sin. “All the wicked He will destroy.” “The transgressors shall be
destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.” (Psalm
145:20; 37:38.) The authority of the divine government will put
down rebellion, yet His justice in punishing sin will be consistent
with the character of God as a merciful, kind being.
God does not force the will. He takes no pleasure in slave-like
obedience. He wants the creatures He has made to love Him because
He is worthy of love. He would like them to obey Him because
they have an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, and
kindness.
The principles of God’s government are in harmony with the
Savior’s command, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). God
executes justice on the wicked for the good of the universe and
even for the good of those who receive His judgments. He would
make them happy if He could. He surrounds them with evidences of
His love and follows them with offers of mercy. But they despise
His love, overturn His law, and reject His mercy. Even while they
constantly receive His gifts, they dishonor the Giver. The Lord is
very patient with their determined self-will, but will He chain these rebels to His side and force them to do what He wants?
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Source: Ellen G. White, The Great Hope, pp. 32, 33.