We’re all, as it were, stumbling around in a veritable stupor above an eternal, raging inferno, as if on rice paper above a vast, churning volcano; sinners in the hands of an angry God, oblivious to our desperate peril. The suffering awaiting all who neglect so great salvation is incalculable, unfathomable. (He 2:3) All the joys and sufferings of this life are so infinitesimal in comparison, it cannot be overstated. Even so, let’s try.
When a person dies without Christ, they immediately find themselves burning alive, endlessly tormented by a living fire. (Lk 16:22-23) Regardless what they were feeling moments before, no matter what kind of pain they were in, they have fallen from the frying pan into the proverbial fire.
This particular fire does not consume, it rather permeates and moves through the body, engaging every nerve with unbearable intensity. (Lk 16:24) It is so intense it emits no light (Ju 13), so both soul and body suffer in eternal darkness. (Mt 10:28)
This punishment is also relentlessly consistent, with no rest, no relief from the pain, ever. (Re 14:10-11)
An apart from the physical, bodily suffering, shame and contempt is poured out upon the wicked for their continual rebellion against holiness. (Da 12:2)
What earthly suffering can be compared with this? When placed side-by-side with infinite, eternal torment it cannot even be measured. Everything of this life is absolutely dwarfed by it.
Eternal Hell is thus the great leveler (Re 16:20), moving every rational soul to eliminate any and every possibility of enduring it. (2Pe 1:10) In spite of the reality of this horrible end, no one seeks God (Ro 3:11) unless He intervenes and wakes them from their slumber (Ep 2:1), as He does with so very few. (Mt 7:14)
This eternal perspective also works in the redeemed to count everything but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of God (Php 3:8) in light of His unspeakable gift. Our light affliction, whatever it may be, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2Co 4:17