Why Would God Send Good People to Hell?
If God is so good, so merciful why would he send good people to hell?
If God is so good, so merciful why would he send good people to hell?
Living life by our own standards or God's standards is a recurring question that my dad always used to pose. It made me ponder on the significance and implications of this choice. I often encounter people asking, "If God is so loving and merciful, why would He send good people to hell? Why wouldn't He show them mercy? How could He create hell and condemn His own beloved creation to it?"
These are valid and thought-provoking questions. However, let's start with a crucial clarification: God doesn't send people to hell. They choose it. It is their disregarding of their Creator that separates them from Him. To truly understand this concept, we need to delve deeper into the notion of God as our Creator.
We need to delve deeper into the notion of God as our Creator.
A common quote that many of us have heard from our parents, "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out." As a creator, the joke is that they have the authority to do as they please with what they have brought into existence. Just like a book or an article, if I am the creator, I have the prerogative to remove or destroy what I have made. This may sound harsh when applied to humans, but we must not view this from a human perspective alone. We need to consider the supernatural and spiritual realm.
God created all things from a perspective far beyond our human understanding. Reflect on a story a remarkable example that God once shared with me about a cell phone. If you were to travel back in time 2000 years and present a cell phone to people, they would be completely bewildered by it. They wouldn't comprehend the technology, the functions, or even the materials that make up the phone. The lights, the sounds, any of it! Their lack of knowledge and understanding would render it completely foreign to them.
Likewise, when we try to comprehend God from a human perspective, we limit ourselves. We have been given only a fraction of the knowledge and understanding required to fathom the entirety of who He is and how He operates. Our human brains contain mysteries that scientists have not yet unlocked, as mentioned in Job 11:7-12.
“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? 9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
and when he sees evil, does he not take note?
12 But the witless can no more become wise
than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.”
When we try to comprehend God from a human perspective, we limit ourselves.
Perhaps, attempting to make sense of God based solely on our understanding is both futile and prideful. We must acknowledge that there are extraordinary aspects of God that surpass our comprehension. Embracing humility and acknowledging our limited understanding allows us to approach our faith with reverence and awe.
Another common question arises: "If God is so merciful, why would He send a good person like me to hell?" This question assumes that we define our own goodness according to our standards. The truth is, when someone denies God and lives by their own standards, they are placing their own wisdom and desires above His. They are rejecting the very foundation of their existence.
But here's the thing: if you are reading this and seeking to understand, deep down, you are not truly okay with any outcome that doesn't align with your pursuit of truth. You are yearning for a higher understanding and a connection with God. This is where faith comes into play.
Faith entails believing and trusting in God based on the evidence we have, even when we don't have complete proof. Hebrews 11:1 beautifully defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith is something we exercise daily, whether it's trusting in the reliability of other people or in the natural order of the world; the air we breathe yet cannot see, and the sun and moon that rise and set without fail.
In conclusion, let us align our lives with God's standards rather than our own. Let us humbly acknowledge our limitations in comprehending the fullness of God's ways. Embracing the mystery and practicing faith can bring us closer to a richer understanding of our Creator and His plan for us.
