But what is God to do with those individuals who will have none of that, who put self first and God nowhere; who desire what God condemns; who love their sins and say “Evil, be thou my Good” (1); who object to God’s interference in their lives and want to be independent of him?  What is God to do with people like that?

All God can do is to let them have their own way and go their own way so that they end up as they wish, with self first and God nowhere; with evil their only good; and living in complete independence of God, so that God is both out of sight and out of mind – and that is eternal death.

We are not robots.  We each fulfil our own destiny according to our own will and choice.  Those who are determined in spite of themselves to cleave steadfastly to God, the source of all goodness, reach the fulfilment of their wish in Heaven.  Those who are determined in spite of God to cleave steadfastly to themselves and to evil, reach the fulfilment of their wish in Hell.

Reference

1. Milton, J. (1674) Paradise lost, Book IV, line 110.  Available from:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/book_4/index.shtml (Accessed 23 November 2012) (Internet).

Prayer of self-offering after Holy Communion

My Jesus, you have given yourself to me, I give myself to you.  I give you my body that it may be chaste and pure.  I give you my soul that it may be free from sin.  I give you my heart that it may always love you.  I give you myself in life and in death to be yours for ever.  Amen.  (Source unknown)