Question: How could a person who has never tortured anybody for one second, who never even thought about torturing somebody even for one second, who did commit mild sins like lied, stolen, committed sexual sins, which did not cause anybody any type of horrible suffering, deserves endless misery in the fire of lava? This cannot be right.
Answer: Your question touches upon the justice of God in condemning what may seem to us as "mild" sins to eternal punishment. To understand why this is so, we must first grasp the nature of sin, the holiness of God, and the character of divine justice.
When we consider the nature of sin, we realize that it is not a trivial matter but a deep and pervasive corruption of our entire being. Sin is like a tincture or poison; even a small amount corrupts the whole. Just as a single drop of poison taints a full glass of water, so even what we consider the slightest sin—be it a lie, theft, or an impure thought—defiles the soul entirely. We tend to measure sin by its immediate effects on others or by human standards, but we must reckon with its offense against the infinite holiness of God. God's holiness is absolute, pure, and uncompromising. Before His perfect righteousness, even the smallest transgression appears in its true color: as an act of rebellion against the Creator and Lawgiver.
The justice of God demands that all sin be judged because sin is a violation of His perfect will and a rejection of His authority. Even what we consider "minor" sins are, in essence, a turning away from God's rightful rule, a declaration that we prefer our own way over His. Scripture teaches that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and this death is not merely physical but a separation from the life and holiness of God. Every sin, no matter how small, is an affront to God's infinite majesty and thus carries infinite weight and consequences.
Now, consider the eternal nature of the punishment for sin. God is infinitely holy, and thus any sin against Him incurs an infinite debt. It is not the size or apparent severity of the sin that dictates the justice of hell, but rather the greatness of the One against whom the sin is committed. Sin does not merely represent a one-time action but a continuous state of enmity and rebellion against God. Left to ourselves, we would persist in this rebellion forever, hence the justness of eternal punishment. As the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it, God is "most just, and terrible in His judgments" (Chapter 2, Section 1).
Moreover, it is necessary to understand that sin has corrupted our nature to such an extent that every part of us—our thoughts, desires, and will—is affected. We are like a glass of water tainted with poison; no part is left pure. This total depravity means that we are incapable of saving ourselves or making ourselves acceptable to God. This is why the Scriptures speak of the need for a complete cleansing, a new birth through the blood of Christ, who alone can purify us from all sin (1 John 1:7). It is not our efforts or attempts at being "less sinful" that save us but the grace of God in Christ Jesus.
In light of this, the justice of hell serves to magnify the greatness of God's mercy. The gospel declares that while the wages of sin is death, "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Where sin is like a drop of poison corrupting our entire being, the grace of God in Christ is the antidote, a potent and complete cure that overcomes the death-dealing power of sin. God's justice, then, is not at odds with His mercy; rather, both are fulfilled perfectly in the work of Christ on the cross. Through faith in Him, we are offered complete cleansing, a restored relationship with God, and the hope of eternal life.
Thus, the analogy of sin as a tincture or poison helps us to see why even the smallest sin carries infinite consequences. Just as a single drop of poison can render a whole glass of water undrinkable, so even "minor" sins make us unfit for the presence of a perfectly holy God. This understanding should drive us to the cross, where God's justice and mercy meet. For those who trust in Christ, there is no condemnation, only the promise of eternal life, for He is the antidote to the poison of sin, offering healing and life to all who come to Him in faith.