The Bible is very clear that God is a God of love. It is also clear in describing a literal and physical place called Hell, or the Lake of Fire. It doesn’t seem very loving or very God-like to send people to a place like that. In this very short booklet, I will try to explain what the Bible has to say about the following three questions about Hell. Much more could be said on this topic; for more questions or comments, you can call me at the church office.
 
Why would a loving God create a Hell and send people to it?
It is a common misconception that God created Hell for bad people on this earth. However, Matthew 25:41 reads that “everlasting fire [was created] for the devil and his angels”. Hell was never intended for mankind. Also, the question “why does God send people to Hell?” is not even accurate. People send themselves to Hell.
 
God is love, but He is also a Judge. Would you consider it fair if a murderer was let free just because the judge loved and believed in the man? Of course not! It doesn’t matter if the judge loves the criminal or not, the criminal deserves a just punishment! The Bible says that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). We all deserve Hell because of our sinful nature; but God is not just a Judge. He loves us enough to send us a substitute to take the place of our punishment – Jesus Christ.
 
Why are people punished infinitely for finite sins?
Crimes are never measured time for time. If you murder, it takes 10 seconds but you spend 50+ years in jail or worse. What matters is how severe the deed was. Imagine the just punishment for someone who rejected, mocked, and scoffed the One who created them and whom they owe their all? Imagine if God created a human being for the sole purpose of glorifying Him, but they never put their faith in Him, and they sinned repeatedly all throughout life? As far as “finite sins” goes, the only sin that sends us to Hell is unbelief; not murder, theft, adultery, rape, or any other.
 
Couldn’t God force everyone to go to Heaven?
First, that would be immoral. They chose sin, chose not to seek and serve their Creator, and they must be punished. You cannot miss this important point: sin’s consequence must be paid for; either through separation from God in Hell, or through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross! Second, Heaven and Hell is a deliberate choice every man and woman must make. The two thieves crucified on either side of Jesus had to make a choice. One mocked Jesus and didn’t believe He was who He said He was, and the other repented of His sin and asked Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus didn’t turn to the scoffer and say, “I’m God! Don’t mock me!” He let him choose, just as He lets everyone choose. Furthermore, imagine the person you dislike the most being chained to you for the rest of eternity? That would be extreme torture. Now imagine someone who has rejected God and sinned against Him for life being forced to live with Him in Heaven for eternity? If you don’t desire God now, you won’t in eternity either!
 
How can I avoid this horrible place of torment?
The Bible says that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." This means that we are all sinners and unworthy of Heaven. God is the standard of perfection and all mankind falls short of perfection. Here is where the God of love comes in: He came to Earth in the form of Jesus Christ to die in our place for our sins. We cannot work our way to Heaven; that's like doing chores for your correction officer so he'll let you out of prison! We have to either pay the price for our sin or find someone perfect to take our place. Friend, Jesus already paid the price for your sin when He died on the cross! Ask His forgiveness and believe on Jesus for your salvation. Simple. Faith alone saves.