God Will Do What is Right and Fair

by Edwin Crozier

One of our least favorite topics is hell. Few people enjoy bringing hell into the conversation, even among the faithful. Those who do enjoy it surely have something wrong with them. Yet, Jesus warned of hell on multiple occasions–though I don’t think He enjoyed it. We see it right here in Luke 12:4-5: “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” (ESV).

Hell seems so unfair to folks today. It seems to be overkill for someone who merely told some little white lies or only gossiped or even just stole a candy bar to suffer hell. Though, can we all admit we don’t actually know anyone whose sins can really be described as “only anything”? The reality is, like heaven, we are not told much about hell. What we are told often seems metaphorical. After all, how can it be a lake of fire but also outer darkness? Yet, whatever we make of the metaphors, the Bible says hell will be frighteningly horrific.

We think, surely not all sins deserve hell. Maybe some people deserve the worst of punishments, but surely not everyone. I mean, okay, maybe Hitler deserves eternal torment, but Uncle Bill, who was a pretty decent guy but was known to stretch the truth now and then? Surely he doesn’t deserve the same punishment as Hitler. Surely the gossiper doesn’t deserve the same punishment as the human trafficker.

With these questions in mind, take a look at Luke 12:47-48.

"And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more" (ESV).

First, recall this is a parable. It is not a literal description of hell. In other words, this passage is not saying hell is an eternal beating. But what it does say is the punishment will fit the crime. Our Master can tell the difference between a life that deserves severe punishment and one that deserves a lighter punishment.

I certainly don’t know all the ins and outs of God’s scales. But I can trust God is as concerned about fairness in punishment as we are. I imagine His perspective on weighty sins versus lighter sins differs from ours. I imagine a great deal of nuance goes into God’s details of who deserves a severe punishment versus who deserves a lighter one. But the point is God is the one who knows. He has the ability and the right to make that determination. Further, He will do what is right and fair. Those who deserve severe will receive severe. Those who deserve light will receive light.

But know this: God will hold us accountable. When He comes, He will call us to account for how we handled the stewardship of this life which He has placed in our hands. And the thing is, we may not all deserve severe punishment, but as we look at the mess we’ve made of the whole thing, we will all discover we deserve some punishment.

In light of this discovery, we look back to yesterday’s post. You see, when we wrote about impudent praying, we might have been thinking about daily meals and earthly well-being. I mean, yes, we will pray for these things. But surely there's no need to get impudent about those things. Suddenly, we recognize why we might want to bang on God’s throne room door and let propriety be hanged. We need forgiveness. We need deliverance. We need mercy. And the only one with the right to give us that is the Master who gave us this stewardship to begin with. And I don’t care who thinks I look a fool or what rules for prayer conduct anyone has established; I’m going to bang on that Master’s door until He gets up and grants me the kingdom.

God will do what is right and fair. He won’t punish us beyond what we deserve. But He will punish us as we deserve. Yet, He has also offered mercy. Will you turn to Jesus, whose sacrifice provides that mercy and grace?