How can a loving God send people to hell?
It is very clear that hell exists. Jesus talks about it several times in the gospels. (Matthew 23:33; Luke 12:5; Matthew 16:18.) But it can be hard to imagine how a loving and merciful God could send people to a place described as a “furnace of fire”. (Matthew 13:50.)
The last option - when everything else has failed
Within the justice system, prison is often seen as the last option. This is because of the negative effect it has on a person’s life. Usually, the longer a criminal spends in prison, with other criminals, the smaller the chances are that they will ever become good citizens again.
But sometimes it is the only option. Apart from being a punishment, in certain cases it’s the only way to make sure they will not commit any further crimes.
Also read: What does the Bible say about Judgment Day?
A merciful and patient God
When it concerns sentencing people to hell, the Bible shows it as God’s last option. “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT).
God does not want anyone to be thrown into hell. He loves each one that He has placed on earth. He gives people many chances to repent and receive forgiveness. God reaches out to people in so many different ways, working in them to make peace with Him. He even sent His only Son to earth to show us the way, all so that we could have every opportunity possible to be saved. (John 3:16.)
In the days of Noah “the LORD saw how bad the people on earth were and that everything they thought and planned was evil.” Genesis 6:5 (CEV). But God spared Noah, and with him the future of all mankind, after He had decided to destroy every living thing. (Genesis 6.) This is a clear example of His patience and mercy.
God is exactly the same today. His hatred for sin and the damage it causes has not become less over time. The same with His earnest desire that everyone should repent. But He will not force anyone to repent. Each one needs to decide of their own free will to serve God rather than sin.
Also read: Why did God give us a free will?
It all begins with godly fear. Joseph’s fear to sin against God let him see sin the way God sees it and he said: “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9.
If you think that to be sentenced to hell is too hard a punishment, then you don’t see how evil sin really is. God cannot allow anything impure in His kingdom because that would corrupt that which is holy and pure. If sin would come into heaven, the curse that is over the earth because of sin would also come in heaven, and God will not allow this to happen. His eternal, unchangeable laws stand unshakably fast, and He does not make exceptions.
Hell is not a place where people are just “sent to”. Just as there is a way that leads to heaven, there is also a way that leads to hell. It’s a path that someone decides to take, a direction they choose long before they get there. When one willingly chooses to live in conflict with God’s laws and refuses to listen when God tells them to repent, they themselves are choosing what the outcome of their life will be.
God, the righteous Judge
“He is coming to judge all people on earth with fairness and truth.” Psalm 96:13 (CEV).
Even people who have never heard of God, will be judged by Him one day. They will be judged according to their conscience, according to the natural sense of right and wrong that every person has, and how they have lived according to it.
God is righteous, and no one will be thrown into hell for doing something that they didn’t understand was wrong. But anyone who acts against their conscience will one day have to give account for that. (Romans 2:12-16.) God is so righteous that nobody will be able to stand before Him on that day and say that something wasn’t fair.
Giving account for your life
But the fear of hell and eternal condemnation shouldn’t be the main reason behind all our decisions. No, God’s patience, mercy, and love towards us should create a longing in us to love Him in return. So much so that we fear to sin against Him. Just ask yourself, “Which path am I on? What thoughts do I allow in my heart, and what will they lead to if I keep them in my heart?”
The choices you make now determine where you will spend your eternity, so don’t ignore the truth about the consequences of sinning against God. When our time on earth is over, everyone will have to give account before the righteous Judge. On that day, you’ll stand there, not together with friends or family, but alone – just you and God. You can’t run back and put things right. Today, you still can.
Now is the moment to begin on the right path, a path without the uneasiness and restlessness that comes from a life that is not ready for judgement. All those who choose to obey God’s blessed laws experience how good He is! They live full lives, full of peace and happiness. Everywhere such people go, they spread joy and sunshine – no matter how their finances, health, or other personal circumstances are. By living according to God’s commandments, they actually bring a taste of heaven to their surroundings. This is what God wants for our lives.