Message Minute (Justice and Love - Understanding God's Character)

"And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." - Matthew 25:46

Here's a question that might make you uncomfortable: How can a loving God allow hell to exist? It's one of those questions that keeps people up at night, and honestly, it should bother us. But let's think about this differently.

Imagine someone hurt your child - really hurt them. Would you want justice? Of course you would! That desire for justice isn't wrong; it's actually part of being made in God's image. We're hardwired to want justice because God is just.

Now imagine the person who hurt your child never faced any consequences. They got away with it completely. That would be a living hell, wouldn't it? That's "the hell of no hell" - a world where justice never comes.

God isn't just loving - He's also perfectly just. He can't ignore the cries of the oppressed or pretend sin doesn't matter. His love actually demands justice. If God just overlooked all the evil in the world, He wouldn't be truly good or loving.

This doesn't make hell easy to accept, but it helps us understand that God's justice and His love aren't contradictory - they work together. Hell means that ultimately, justice will be done. No one gets away with anything forever.

Reflection Question: How does understanding God's justice alongside His love change your perspective on difficult topics like hell?

Prayer: God, help me understand Your character more fully. Thank You that You are both loving and just. Help me trust You even with the hard questions, knowing that Your ways are perfect. Amen.