The View From Ninety-Two

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

God doesn't have a desire for humans to go to hell; His desire is that each of us would choose life --- to make a decision to wholeheartedly follow Him as a result of coming to our senses about who He truly is and who we truly are. At some future point in history, God will bring all of creation to a crescendo --- but currently He chooses to allow time to pass in hopes that more people will turn to Him and be saved from His coming righteous wrath toward evil.

I found the following excerpts from Dr. Rick Cornish's book, "5 Minute Apologist," pp. 123-125 to be educational; his words (logical reasoning) also caused growth in my affections toward God.

"God did not make hell for humans but for Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Humans go there as a result of rejecting God, expressing their persistent desire to avoid Him. He grants their wish, deporting them to the place of their dreams --- absence from Him, the central aspect of hell (2 Thessalonians 1:9)."

"... by a life of rejecting God and His salvation, people choose their own separation from Him. In effect, they get what they wanted by refusing God. In fact, wouldn't heaven be hell for those who hate God? What is God to do, force them to choose Him even though they don't want Him? Perhaps it's an act of grace that God allows them a special place where they can hate Him to their heart's content."

"God is gracious to everyone for eternity. He supplies exactly what they desire, a place suited for those who want Him --- heaven; and a place for those who don't --- hell."