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. (Lk 3:7) 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.(Mk 9:45)
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)
And 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)
Complaints about God allowing unjust suffering are evidently offered with little thought given to the magnitude of eternal suffering. God knows how to right all wrongs.
Tim,
I like Job’s example. Suffers a Lot. And his testimony remains:
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and [worshiped]. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
stephen