They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction. 2 Thessalonians 1:9
The combination of these two words—eternal and destruction—is terrifying. But the meaning of these words when you put them together is clear. This is a destruction without end. Matthew Henry says, “It is to always be dying and never to die.”
You may say, “Wait a minute, this kind of punishment sounds disproportionate. How can any sin deserve eternal destruction? If God is just, how can He punish like this?” Consider, for a moment, how justice works in our society.
Suppose a teenage student punches another student during recess. What happens? The student is given a detention. Now suppose, during the detention, he punches the teacher. What happens? He will be suspended from school. Suppose this same boy is on the way home, and he punches a policeman. What happens now? He finds himself in jail.
Fast forward 10 years, and the very same boy, who is now a young man, joins a parade that is waiting to see the President of the United States. As the President passes by, the boy lunges forward to punch him… and he is shot dead by a Secret Service agent.
In every case the crime is precisely the same, but the severity of the crime is not. It is measured, not only by the person’s actions, but also by who it is committed against. So, what comes from sinning against God? Answer: eternal destruction.
Have you ever spoken (prayed) to God openly and honestly about His justice? What would keep you from doing that now?
