Is it fair that we have the possibility of being sent to Hell when we didn't ask to be born in the first place?

[crzydzy2468]

I consider myself a Catholic. I go to weekly mass and I go to confession on a regular basis. I am ashamed to say I don’t know the Bible that well, but I listen to the Scripture that is read at mass.

Lately I’ve been trying to ask myself why God even decided to create humans and put us on this Earth. I don’t know if that is something I should be questioning, but I’m sure everyone has wondered this at one point or another. I came to the conclusion that this is something we won’t ever know while we are alive and we will ask God when we get to Heaven.

I have also been kind of worried lately, I guess with all of this talk about today being Judgement Day. (I don’t know if everyone’s heard about that) But I then asked myself if Jesus were to come back at this very second, would I be ready? My answer is that I don’t know. and that makes me very scared. I really want to believe that I am going to go to Heaven, but I hate that I don’t know for sure. I am so afraid to die, because I am worried that I will be sent to Hell. I sin just like any other human being. I do go to confession, but I do sin in between each confession.

I also do believe in Purgatory, but there’s no way we can know for sure that Purgatory exists unless we have died.

Ok, all of this thinking has led me to wondering again why God even put us on this Earth. I am thinking it’s not really fair that we have to endure life and be tempted by Satan. I don’t think it’s fair that we could be sent to Hell if we give into these temptations. I know that God loves me as well as all of his creations, but I didn’t ask to be born. Why are humans being put to a test that they did not ask for?

I feel really horrible for questioning God. I know it is very wrong. I just want to get this all sorted out in my head. Is it even meant to be sorted out? Would I be asking all of these questions if I read the Bible more?

Sorry if my questions are a little all over the place.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

I don’t think that you really want to go the “is it fair” route. Was it fair that Jesus suffered such agony when he was so innocent? It wasn’t fair, but it WAS loving. It is truly unthinkable for us to imagine not existing. To imagine it requires us to exist in order to imagine it. I learned this, standing on the sofa, leaning with my elbows on the back rest and looking out at the vacant lot across the street when I was a pre-schooler—and I remember it! I also remember what a frustrating experience it was. I have learned that it isn’t unusual for young children to think such thoughts. What is unusual is to remember them when we are adults.

What has thrown you off, if I may say so, is that you started your reflection with yourself. This is very common in our culture. But since God came first, he ought always to come first. God is not just a bigger version of us. He is God and good beyond our ability to fathom. Instead of asking yourself why God would create us only to be tempted by Satan and possibly go to hell, you would have found much more peace if you had simply looked at him. You don’t have to be an expert in Scripture to know his greatest revelation of himself: Good Friday. He told us more about himself that day by what he willingly endured than anywhere in Scripture or anywhere else. He also revealed a lot about us as well. He loves you, my friend. By creating you, he has given you the opportunity to know him and to fully appreciate him for all eternity. Simply because he has given you the freedom to turn your back on him, does you no harm. It gives you the opportunity to choose to love him. To know and love him is more than worth anything that we might suffer. Keep your eyes on him and you will become more and more grateful that he created you. The more you love him, the fewer sins you will have to worry about.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.