OBJECTION #2: “It is impossible that God could justify the evil on Earth in the afterlife.”

While this is difficult to imagine, the Bible teaches that God will comfort us personally (Rev. 21:4). In fact, God will mend our pain and suffering in two ways: length and love.

First, God will repair our pain and suffering in LENGTH. How does 100 years of suffering compare to eternity? It doesn’t outweigh it by a billion or even a trillion fold. Instead, eternity infinitely outweighs this life in its length.

Second, God will repair our pain and suffering in LOVE. God is completely loving (1 Jn. 4:16), and he is an inconceivably beautiful Being (Ps. 27:4). To be in the presence of God cannot be comprehended in this life (1 Cor. 2:9; 2 Cor. 12:4). The apostle Paul suffered immensely (2 Cor. 11:23-29), but in the very same letter, he called these atrocities “light and momentary” affliction compared with eternity (2 Cor. 4:16-17). Mother Theresa said, “In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth, a life full of the most atrocious tortures on earth, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconve­nient hotel.”

In light of the length and joy of eternity, earthly suffering will be overwhelmingly restored.

  1. ^

    Cited in Strobel, Lee. The Case for Faith: a Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. 47.

About The Author
James Rochford

James earned a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, graduating magna cum laude. He is the founder of Evidence Unseen and the author of several books. James enjoys serving as a pastor at Dwell Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and their two sons.

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