"And yet in this I desired, as [far] as I durst (dared), that I might have full sight of Hell and Purgatory."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 33)
If God shall make all well that is not well, then how could there be anyone who is not in happily at home with God? How could there be anywhere to 'go' but the Father's arms, in heavenly bliss? If just one person is missing out on fully enjoying God's presence in complete purity and innocence, then all would not be well. And Christ specifically says that all shall be well, and that every kind of thing shall be well, for the least little thing or person will not be forgotten. Perhaps, then, hell and purgatory are simply misunderstandings that people have had of scripture or of God. What if noone is shunned from God's presence because love always accepts and includes and never rejects? He really is pure love, and pure love never harms or rejects people but only accepts and helps them. He really is perfect love, and perfect love never torments people but only comforts and dispels all fear of torment. It follows, then, that coming to be in God's presence and truly seeing Him face to face will be the ultimate love encounter, the most pleasant and joyful and peaceful experience imaginable!
But still we may worry that we are supposed to 'pay' for our sins. But what if noone will need to 'pay' for their sins or be 'punished' because that is exactly what Jesus already did on behalf of everyone? He became a curse for us on the cross, dying a sinner's death, paying the penalty the law required for our crimes, taking away all the sin of the world and thus cleansing and purifying everyone, even taking us out from under the law that demanded punishment. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Him, not counting their sins against them, that is, forgiving them. All are forgiven and reconciled to God. And all are free from the law that condemns and brings down penalties. So doesn't that mean there is nothing to be punished for, nothing to pay, nothing to fix, nothing to reconcile, no condemnation or punishment at all? Wouldn't that mean that when we come to be face to face with God there will be no talk of sin because Christ already did away with it and there is no sin on us at all, having been replaced with the righteousness of Christ that He gave us? We live in perpetual forgiveness and cleansing and purity. God truly doesn't see any sin when He looks at us, only the righteousness of Christ. We are sinless before Him! It's a permanent cleansing and an eternal salvation, all given freely by His unconditional grace. So there no sin on us to 'pay' for; there is only righteousness on us to be honored for! In that case, aren't we truly made 'worthy' and rightfully belonging in heaven? In that case, isn't it true there's no 'hell' to pay!
"Love will never invoke fear. Perfect love expels fear, particularly the fear of punishment."
1 John 4:18 (VOICE)
"Love does no harm."
Romans 13:10 (NKJV)
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
A Prayer: Thank You for Your perfect love for us that drives out all our fears of punishment!