God doesn’t send anyone to hell. People choose to go there when they reject Jesus Christ.
Surprised by that answer? you shouldn’t be. God is both loving and just. He won’t force anyone to love him. In fact, he allows all to to pursue the longings of their lives. People who want nothing to do with God in this life will be granted that desire for eternity. That results in eternal separation from God who is the source of all love, joy and beauty.
But God’s desire is for all of us to enjoy Him. He wants everyone to be saved from the torments of an endless pursuit of that which will never truly satisfy–an eternity devoid of love and beauty. One of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, reminds us :
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
He has provided a way to much better eternal life, one in which there is no more sadness or disappointment or loneliness or war or pestilence or pain or death. It comes through a personal relationship with His son, Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 3:16-21
God is patient and long-suffering, but eventually all must choose. We all will die and meet God the Creator face-to-face; no reincarnation and no second chances. When we do, we may discover that our choices in life lead to an eternity in hell. Choose wisely.
Answers to Life’s Greatest Questions is provided by Living Dialog Ministries. Visit our website at LivingDialog.org where you’ll see the wide range of books and booklets to help you go deeper in the study of God’s Word.
