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Life After Death: What do You Think?
by
Mark H. Logan
While there are a myriad of possible specific answers to this question, there seem
to be three general ones:
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A. There is no life after death.
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B. There are many lives after death.
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C. There is eternal life after death.
It would be nice to believe that all are right answers or that it doesn't matter
what you believe -- that everything will work out it the end, but that's a fairy
tale. You and I know that life is not like that. There are consequences for every
action in life. That's reality. Only one answer can be right, and it is the purpose
of this brief pamphlet to get you to think about this extremely important question.
I admit to you that I will be urging you to consider a particular answer and if
you disagree I respect your opinion but it still may be worth 5 minutes of your
time. Let's consider them briefly in order.
A. There is no life after death
This view is generally held by atheists who explain the origin of life and this
universe in a variety of ways, but apart from God. Although much brilliant research
has gone into the development of this theory, it requires faith to believe it since
it unobservable and plays fast and loose with probability and the Second Law of
Thermodynamics, which states things go from a state of low entropy to a state of
higher entropy. Let me illustrate. In South Dakota there is a mountain called Mount
Rushmore, which was carved out of granite by sculptor Gutzon Borglum. It was finished
in 1941, depicting the faces of American Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln,
and Theodore Roosevelt. Would you be willing to believe that Mount Rushmore was
carved by the wind or other natural causes i.e. that it evolved? What if I gave
you 100 trillion years? Why? Because the probability is not just infinitesimal,
it is zero. A creation of complexity, order, design requires a creator. Humans,
animal and plant species are much more complex that Mount Rushmore. The probability
of them evolving from nothing is zero. What has that to with life after death? This
is what God has to say about those who refuse to acknowledge Him.
For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of
God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things
of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without
excuse. (Romans 1:18-20)
And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and
the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life
freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he
shall be My son. But the fearful, and unbelieving,
and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and idolators, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is
the second death. (Revelation 21:6-8)
B. There are many lives after death
This is a view made popular lately by the New Age movement. Shirley MacLaine has
popularized it on talk shows, but it is related to Hinduism, which has been around
for a long time. New Age material found its way into business and industry as people
preoccupied with self latch on to teachings such as that each soul is its own god
and to love self is to love God. Benjamin Creme says,¹ "You are God, I
am God. All is God. And because all is God, there is no God. God is not someone
you can point to and say, 'That is God.' God is everything you have ever known or
could ever
know--and everything beyond your level of knowing." Shirley MacLaine makes
the claim that in past lives she has been several other people of different nationalities
and in different centuries. If it is true that we are all gods who have lived many
lives, then there should be and have always been an equal number of births and deaths,
yet we have more people on the earth now than have ever lived put together. Obviously
not many living today could be on multiple lifetimes and if everyone is their own
god, why do some reincarnate and others do not? Are some gods and others not? In
discovering yourself you may find out that to your dismay you are on your first
and only lifetime with no hope after the grave.
First of all God Himself in His Word, the Bible, revealed to the apostle Paul that
a preoccupation with self would be a sign of the end times.
In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof; . . . ever learning, and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (II Timothy 3:2-7)
Paul also speaks of those who changed God's glory to glorify man as being given
over to uncleanness in the lustfulness of their hearts and dishonoring of their
bodies.
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. (Romans 1:25)
C. There is eternal life after death
One thing we do not need to debate is that death is inevitable. God says, "It
is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment." (Hebrews
9:27) The Bible is a lot like an owner's manual. The builder of the car, appliance,
toy, etc. gives you a manual so that you can understand what you bought, how it
was assembled, how to maintain it for peak performance, and how to receive help
when it breaks. God, the Creator, has given man a free will to choose right or wrong.
He has given us His manual, the Bible, so that we could understand Him better and
know about His provision for sin. God sent His Son into the world to pay the price
for sin. The following verses are just a few of the many in the Bible which declare
this loving plan of God's grace to man:
Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin;
and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (II Corinthians
5:21)
While the Bible tells us of God's provision for man's sin, it also tells us that
we must receive this gift of eternal life personally. As you have seen, the Bible
also tells of a place of eternal punishment and suffering (Lake of Fire) for those
who refuse the gift of God, and continue in sinful ways. It is your choice, but
to presume that you are a good person or religious and therefore have eternal life
is dangerous. It's like ignoring the owner's manual and putting whatever you think
will work in your engine or appliance. We are all free to think what we like but
it will not change the truth. The truth from God, the Creator, is that there is
life after death. You will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. Your sin will
not allow you to go to Heaven. You must put your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
The jailer in Philippi asked Paul and Silas, who were missionaries, "Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:30,31) Would you like
to receive Christ as your Saviour and be sure of eternal life in Heaven when you
die? If you will call out to Him, He will hear you because He says, "For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans
10:13). Please write or call the address or phone number below if you would
like to ask any questions. We would be glad to know of your decision to be saved
and help you with your Christian life.
¹ Benjamin Creme, The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom
©1998 by Mark H Logan
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