On love, Hell, and all points between.

This is a conversation I wish I had more often. *sigh*


God is love. Yes, Amen. But why would a loving God send anyone to Hell?


Good question! And it has a much simpler answer than you'd think.


Of all God's attributes, there's only one of which He's described as perfectly being. Holy. Revelation 4:8b: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Why does the holy thrice repeated mean God's perfect at being holy? Hebrew numerology. Three is the Hebrew number of perfection, seven is the number for completion. The numbers 12 and 40 also have significance, but not for this lesson.
Holy, Holy, Holy. Perfectly holy. Without blemish, without imperfection. And that's the key. Without imperfection.


One of the attributes of perfection is that it cannot stand or allow imperfection. It is intolerant of imperfection. Any imperfection in the presence of perfection makes the perfection imperfect as well.
An example: Let's say you buy a car, brand new off the assembly line, zero miles and not a speck of dust on it. It's perfect, yes? Now let's say there's a teeny tiny scratch under the back bumper where nobody can see unless they were looking for it. Is the car still perfect? No. It's damned close, but it's not. One tiny imperfection makes the whole thing imperfect.


So it is with God. Or close enough, rather. Any imperfection in God's presence would be burned away. It couldn't survive. So what's God to do with an imperfect race of people whom He desperately wants to embrace? He makes a way. He sends His son to be a perfect sacrifice, building a bridge to Him.
But, He only sees us as perfect because He sees His Son covering us. If we don't have the Son in us, He doesn't see us as perfect. We therefore cannot enter Heaven. Simple.


Perfection through salvation, in this light, is much like voting. You as an American-born citizen have the right to vote, but you don't have to. And honestly, wouldn't you complain if voting was forced upon you? You'd rebel, you'd leave the country, you'd fight just as hard for the right to not vote. So would you really rather God force salvation upon everyone? He desires for all to know Him, which is where the love comes in, but if you choose to walk away, then so be it. Just know that there's no amount of good you can do in this world that will buy the covering of His Son, the only thing that will allow you into His Presence.