A Loving God and Eternity

Matthew 25:31-46

The scr i ptures clearly speak of existence after death--people will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. Yet many individuals consider this truth inconsistent with other facts about the Lord. While their objections are understandable, the Bible provides the answers to their questions:

How can the Lord be good if He lets some people spend their afterlife in hell? God is love (1 John 4:8) and doesn't want anyone to live without Him (1 Tim. 2:4). Everyone can turn from sin and receive the Savior, thereby avoiding eternal separation from Him. But some reject Christ and live apart from Him all their days. They will continue to exist apart from His presence throughout eternity.

Why would the Lord create certain individuals, knowing they would never turn to Him? To some, this seems unloving. Yet the alternative would be worse. He created us with free will--we can choose to obey and follow Him. If our Father gave us no choice, we'd be mere robots, unable to truly respond, love, and worship.

An endless penalty seems unfair, particularly if non-Christians never heard a clear presentation of the gospel. As long as unbelievers are alive, the heavenly Father does everything He can to keep them from eternal punishment--except to violate their free will. He gives enough time and evidence so that nobody has a valid excuse for rejecting the one path to salvation (Rom. 1:20; John 14:6).

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? He wants you to spend eternity with Him.