Why would God punish someone for eternity for temporary sins?
by Matt Slick
The reason God would punish someone for eternity for temporal sins committed on earth is based on whom the sin is against--not on the size of the sins. Let me illustrate. If I were to walk up to you and slap you, you might get angry or even take a swing at me. We’re done (hopefully). If I were to walk up to the President of the United States and slap him, I would be arrested and probably spend years in jail. Why would the exact same “small” offense get such a different result? It is because of whom it is against. Likewise, when we move up the chain of command to the infinite God of the universe, it isn’t difficult to see that the consequences are amplified infinitely as well. Therefore, eternal punishment in Hell fits the crime.
Like it or not, when we sin, we sin against God. He is holy, and He is righteous, and anything we do that is contrary to His will--breaking the Law of God (1 John 3:4)--properly deserves a punishment. Since our offense is against an infinitely holy God, the consequence is likewise infinite and that is why eternal Hell exists.
