But even though our actions must have consequences, the rewards we can attain far outweigh the painful penalties of sin. The Gemara (Chagiga 15a-b) relates that there was a great Tanna named Elisha ben Avuya. After many years of accomplishment, he committed a severe sin. After that, he completely changed his ways. He became a terrible sinner and caused others to sin. He collaborated with the Romans, murdered Torah scholars, and even persuaded Torah scholars to leave the study halls rather than “waste their time” studying Torah. He was no longer referred to by his name; he became known as Acher (“someone else”).
When Acher died, they did not allow him into Gan Eden because he had sinned, but they did not want to put him in Gehenom because he had studied Torah, which protects from Gehenom. His student Rabbi Meir said, “It is better for him to be punished in Gehenom to be able to enjoy in Gan Eden afterward. When I die, I will cause smoke to rise from his grave (which would show that Rabbi Meir had gotten Acher into Gehenom).” When Rabbi Meir died, smoke began rising from Acher’s grave.
Many years later, Rabbi Yochanan said, “Is it really such an act of strength for Rabbi Meir to get his rebbe burned? Only one of us went off. Between all of us, can’t we save him? If I grab him and bring him to Olam Habba, who will stop me? When I die, I will stop the smoke that has been rising from Acher’s grave (which would show that Rabbi Yochanan had taken Acher from Gehenom and put him in Gan Eden).” When Rabbi Yochanan died, smoke stopped rising from Acher’s grave.
The Kochvei Ohr (Chapter 1) calculates that about 150 years passed from when Rabbi Meir died until Rabbi Yochanan died. That means for 150 years, Acher was tortured with the most horrific punishments. And Acher was released from Gehenom only because Rabbi Yochanan dragged him out. Had Rabbi Yochanan not done so, who knows how much longer Acher would have remained in Gehenom? He was one of the worst sinners ever. He might have still been in Gehenom today! Yet Rabbi Meir, knowing all this, brought Acher into Gehenom to enable him to eventually be allowed into Gan Eden! Why?
The Kochvei Ohr explains that this story demonstrates Hashem’s amazing kindness. He set up the next world with the most incredible pleasure that exists, and He only put us in this world first to earn it so we can experience it to the greatest extent possible. Usually, people would forfeit pleasure to avoid pain. But this pleasure is so amazing, even though we can’t relate to it now, that it’s not worth giving up even an iota to avoid the most terrible tortures. It is so good that it’s even worth suffering the worst tortures for thousands of years to get into Gan Eden. This exhilarating experience is waiting for every Jew. The depressing outlook we sometimes feel about what is waiting for us is a myth created by the yetzer hara.