Is eternal hell fair punishment for a short life of sin?

Skeptics regularly ask, how a fair and compassionate God sends someone to eternal hell for a short life of sin? The punishment does not fit the crime.

The problem is that people do not understand the Gospel clearly. The Gospel is about the eternal Kingdom of God.¹ It will only be a success because the citizens love and obey the Leader. For example, if the United States of America could remove all rebels and the people loved and obeyed a perfect leader, it would become a kingdom of peace and prosperity.

The key is that it is not about some sins a person committed, but whether he wants to become part of God’s eternal Kingdom? The most important aspect is love for God. So:

• The person who lives a life of sin refuses to follow God’s ways. He bluntly demonstrates to God: I am not interested in loving you and I don’t even consider obedience. I serve myself, myself only, and that is the end of the story.  He gives God no guarantee that he will fit into the Kingdom of peace. God designed this natural life as the testing ground for eternity. This is the determinative phase. Here a person decides what his or her eternal destination will be – to be part of God’s Kingdom, or not? To love and honour the King, or not?
• Can anybody blame God for deciding that someone with such an attitude is not fit to serve in His eternal Kingdom? The coming Kingdom will have no insurrection, rebellion, palace coup, or anything of the sort. All the children of God will love and obey the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The right question is therefore: how can God allow a person who has no interest in the King and the Kingdom, to be part of the eternal Kingdom?  God will never disadvantage billions of believers who are willing to live in peace and love to be influenced by rebellious, disobedient people. A little yeast can influence a lot of dough. A few rebels among the faithful in eternity will surely influence others against God. The children of God in many cases had to persevere and overcome tremendous rejection and attacks by the devil and his people in this life. They are entitled to an eternal life of peace.

Conclusion

God is like most human fathers. He wants the best for His children. He gives those who refuse to acknowledge Him as Father, what they want, namely separation from Him. He gives His children what they want: eternal peace and happiness with no rebels around to disturb the peace. People who live a ‘short’ life of sin, have only themselves to blame if they never see the face of the One they despise.

Reference

1. Psalm 145:13; Acts 1:3
2. Colossians 2:13-14