Why would an eternal God create humans who live briefly and then are judged forever?

The Eternal Nature of the Creator

God is described in Scripture as existing from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). Because He is eternal, His perspective on time, life, and judgment differs entirely from human limitations. He transcends the boundaries we experience and is not constrained by the brevity that marks our existence on earth. As Isaiah 46:9–10 attests, God declares “the end from the beginning” and accomplishes all He decrees.

The Purpose of Human Life

Humanity is created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). This means people are endowed with the capacity for moral reasoning, relational intimacy, and the ability to reflect God’s goodness and character. Rather than being a mere biological accident, human existence has intentional design. Dead Sea Scrolls—ancient manuscripts unearthed in the mid-twentieth century—testify to the consistency of Old Testament accounts affirming this design as part of God’s deliberate plan.

From the earliest chapters of Genesis to later theological reflections in the New Testament, Scripture consistently shows that God desires a relationship with humanity (cf. Isaiah 43:7, “everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory”). This relationship offers the opportunity to participate in His redemptive purpose and experience eternal fellowship with Him.

The Brevity of Earthly Existence

Human lifespans are brief when compared to God’s eternal nature (Psalm 144:4: “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow”). Yet, this brevity prompts us to seek what truly matters, directing our focus to the eternal. Archaeological evidence of ancient burial practices—found in sites from Israel to the broader Near East—underscores how civilizations throughout history have grappled with the reality of mortality. Scripture addresses this universal concern: we have a finite earthly life but are ultimately made for an eternal purpose.

The Reality of Judgment

Scripture teaches that all stand before God’s judgment (Hebrews 9:27: “Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment”). This judgment is not arbitrary. It aligns with God’s character and law, revealed consistently in the Old and New Testaments and preserved in thousands of manuscript witnesses, which Greek scholarship (including the comprehensive studies of textual critics) has demonstrated to be reliable and unified in key doctrinal teachings.

Because God is perfectly just and infinitely holy, our moral decisions carry lasting consequences. The fact that God would exercise judgment does not contradict His love; rather, it affirms His just character, ensuring that evil and wrongdoing do not go unaddressed.

Why Judgment Is Eternal

Eternal judgment reflects the infinite nature of the One against whom rebellion occurs. Sin represents a breach of fellowship with God—an offense against Him whose worth is without limit. Because humans bear His image, our actions have consequences that extend beyond our temporally brief lives.

While this can sound severe, Scripture also reveals God’s redemptive heart. Jesus Himself proclaimed God’s readiness to forgive any who turn to Him (Luke 15:7). The finality of eternal judgment underscores the sincerity and urgency of God’s invitation to receive grace.

Opportunity for Redemption

Through Christ, God has made a way of salvation and a pathway to eternal life (John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”). Jesus’ crucifixion and bodily resurrection are recorded by multiple New Testament authors, corroborated by numerous Greek manuscripts, and furthermore referenced in extra-biblical sources such as the works of first-century historians (Josephus, Tacitus). These accounts strengthen the historical foundation that Jesus truly rose from the dead—a central tenet showing that God’s plan extends beyond the brevity of earthly life.

Demonstrations of Divine Power and Design

The wonders of creation—from complex biological systems to the fine-tuned constants of physics—speak of an intelligent Designer. Scientific research into irreducibly complex structures and the precise mechanisms necessary for life continues to point toward a deliberate ordering rather than random emergence. Geological and archaeological studies revealing rapid strata formation (such as observed in events like Mount St. Helens’ eruption) provide a model that supports a short timescale for earth’s features. These data points, when considered through the lens of Scriptural genealogies, feed into a plausible understanding of a younger earth and the intentional design by an all-powerful Creator.

God’s Glory and Human Free Will

Human existence—however fleeting—serves to reflect God’s glory in two primary ways. First, we have the option to accept His offer of redemption, magnifying His mercy and grace. Second, for those who reject Him, the seriousness of eternally choosing to remain apart from Him highlights God’s unchanging holiness and justice. This span of life is the arena in which humanity exercises free will: a gift pointing to our genuine value in God’s eyes.

The Call to Relationship

God’s desire is not that anyone should perish (2 Peter 3:9). The consistent manuscripts of Scripture, supported by wide-ranging textual and archaeological studies, testify to a loving God who has communicated His truth from generation to generation. The option to respond, though, is ours.

Modern stories of miracles and healings echo biblical accounts, demonstrating that God continues to intervene in human history. These anecdotal and documented cases (from mission fields around the world to medical reports lacking natural explanations) reinforce the biblical picture of a God actively wishing to reveal Himself, even in our brief lifespan.

Consolation in Eternity

Though life is short, believers live with the assurance that physical death is not the end. As Jesus reminded those around Him: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25). This promise reaffirms that the eternal perspective transforms the fleeting nature of earthly days into a hopeful journey toward everlasting communion with God.

Conclusion of the Matter

The question of why an eternal God would create humans with a short earthly life followed by eternal judgment can be approached by understanding God’s eternality, the reality of our accountability, and His gracious invitation to eternal life. Our brevity on earth sharpens our awareness of spiritual truths, underscores the serious nature of moral choices, and highlights, above all, the matchless grace offered in Christ. Far from an empty exercise, this brief earthly sojourn is the foundation on which an eternal destiny is laid—one that promises eternal joy for those reconciled to God, ultimately fulfilling the very purpose for which humanity was designed.