Balder said:
God is not Constantine who threatens death without conversion. God loves, woos, draws, persuades. Love relationships must be freely chosen and maintained. Man introduced the consequences of sin when he rebelled. God is a responsible Moral Governor of the universe. His Law of Love must be upheld. This includes sanctions for breaking His Law. As a parent or a Judge, one should appreciate that Hitler must be held accountable and stopped. Rewards for obedience are equally important.
The gift of free will entails the possibility of chosing to love God or chosing to live for Self. The former continues forever in His presence, while the latter results in separation from God.
It is to God's credit that He gave you free will instead of making robotons or slaves. If you chose to be a slave to sin and Self, there will be consequences (cf. jumping off a cliff and breaking the law of gravity). God has done everything to bring you back. He became a man and died an ignominious death. He loved us to the point of dying for us. If you spit in His face, you will be allowed to spend eternity in the insane asylum for stupid, selfish people. Not only is this fair, it is just. Love and holiness are two wings of the bird. Love without truth is sentimentality. Truth without love would be harsh. God is love, but He is also Holy and responsible to allow righteousness to reign and evil to be banished in the end.
