The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
One of the rather difficult questions seekers ask is how a good and loving God can send innocent people to hell? This question bothers a lot of earnest seekers. How can we honestly answer it?
Our text today is an example of a relevant answer, for it clearly states that actually God does not want ANYONE to perish but desires that EVERYONE should come to repentance. That is why He loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not PERISH but have eternal life (John 3:16).
In fact, the Lord Jesus explains elsewhere that hell was specifically prepared for the devil and his fallen angels (Matthew 25:51). So in all truth, God does not send “innocent” people to hell. Each one of us chooses either the way to heaven or the way to hell (Matthew 7:14). But God wants each one of us to choose heaven, by trusting in His dear Son, Jesus Christ. So sinners effectively send themselves to hell. And there is nothing “innocent” about any of us outside the cleansing of the blood of the Lamb! But that’s a discussion for another day.
Pastor Josh