In the discussion of heaven and hell, skeptics will often argue, "What could you possibly do in a lifetime to deserve an eternity of hell?" The primary question there is correct. You see, for justice to occur, the punishment must fit the crime. But the fundamental basis for the question is flawed. Time is not a measure of just punishment. The question is the seriousness of the offense, not the amount of time it took. As we all know, murder is way up there on the list of worst crimes, but murder doesn't take much time, generally, so in this line of thinking -- punishment equated to time -- a murderer couldn't get more than a 5 minute sentence if he only took 5 minutes to do the crime. No, we all know that's wrong. We all know that murder is worst than theft which is worse than, say, jaywalking, so the seriousness of each determines the just punishment for each.
The question, then, that needs to be asked is not in terms of a lifetime, but in terms of the seriousness. What can we commit in this life that is serious enough to deserve an eternal punishment? As it turns out, Scripture tells us that answer. "All have sinned," Paul tells us, and then elucidates why that is problematic -- "and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). "Really?" some will protest, "You consider violating the glory of God worthy of eternal punishment?" Well, I do if I concur with God. Adam and Eve in the garden weren't warned they would die for eating fruit; they were warned they would die because they violated God's glory. If the singular focus of the human creature is supposed to be the glory of God, then eating wrong is a violation (1 Cor 10:31). If the reason we are under God's wrath is not our sin, but our suppression of the truth about Him (Rom 1:18-21), it's about His glory, not "bad behavior." And violating the eternal glory of the Creator falls in that "most serious of crimes" category, the crime we commit in every sin we undertake.
Of course, most people won't see this as reasonable. That's because diminishing God's glory is routine for us. He's just like us (Psa 50:21), isn't He? God disagrees. And we're so immune to that idea that we can't see it when it's right in front of us (Psa 29), not realizing that we diminish His glory by questioning His judgment (Gen 2:16-17; Matt 8:11-12; Matt 13:41-42; Luke 13:1-5; etc.). And, in the face of that problem of ours, justice would be the last thing we ask for from God.
2 comments:
Anyone that denies Hell denies that God is glorious and holy. They must have a low view of God to dismiss the seriousness of sin.
For too many...one in particular...what God regards as just punishment must align with their own notions of what constitutes a just response to to sins against HIM. That is, if one doesn't believe, for example, one's sexually immoral act is a big deal, then there's no way a "perfectly just and perfectly loving God" would...or should...believe otherwise. But how can such people insist they can gauge the degree to which God is offended by transgressions against Him, which all sin is. I can say, "how can you take offense at a slap in the face when I've been slapped and don't see it as a big deal?" It implies one must not find problematic that which I don't find problematic without regard to how one feels about the act.
It does indeed suggest such people have a low regard of God, making Him to be no more than just another dude Who must not disagree with "ME!" Yet, mankind has imperfectly mirrored the gap between God and man with regard to earthly rulers. Rare was the king or emperor who would suffer the slightest disagreement or insult...intentional or not...without serious repercussions, so vast was the status between king and the rest. But because such a person was mere mortal...just another man when it's all said and done...critiquing the fairness and justice of his actions was more appropriate, despite the form of government setting him apart and above all others. Hard to know everything which might offend the king, but as he is king, he gets to decide according to what offends him.
And of course, those who dare suggest they can indict God for injustice where it concerns punishment, have no problem presuming they are deserving of eternal peace and joy in the presence of God in heaven. What could anyone possibly do in a lifetime to deserve an eternity of that? Logic would dictate the same degree of goodness is required for eternal reward if one demands a certain degree of wickedness must be required to be deserving of eternal punishment.
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