After a long time...

I heard Charles Stanley the other day on the radio. He said in his series "The Father's Love" i think it was called (about the prodigal son) that the moment we commit sin, God has already forgiven us. This of course does not release us from the consequences of our sin (scars, he called them) but it does pose the question as to why bother to forgive if it does not benefit the person in some way. Would not God's forgiveness grant us some release? I believe the release is spiritual, but the physical and even mental or emotional consequences might stay with us until the day we die (that's what he said). But what about AFTER death? The punishment seems no longer to fit the crime to me. The more I grow in love and God, the more eternal damnation bothers me. We have but 80 years if we're lucky, and whatever we do (or do not do) in that time can determine where we spend eternity. It's quite a load to put on a creature whose life is "but a breath of wind" in the scope of the universe and all of humanity. All I can say is, if we believe in eternal Hell, we better make sure we're really saved and stop worrying about all the others who are so blinded by their environment and other factors... only God can help them, but it still sounds like "God only helps those who help themselves". So much for the Love of a Father for his son; if you aren't smart enough to see what's gonna kill you, he isn't going to force it upon you. Quite a thing to live with eternaly in Hell. Sorry guys. If it was up to me, I'd forgive the whole lot of you because of your own blindness... but I'm not God; I'm just a man who has been trying to live my life more like Him, that His ways would become my ways. But I must have missed something when I read Jesus words "LOve your enemies" or "Do good to those who hurt you" or "Be merciful as your Father is merciful". Even though you might be mine or God's enemies, I cannot bless you like he could. I am very confused about this today.
Maybe tomorrow I might know better.