(Heb 9:27) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
We live in an increasingly secular society. People don’t think Biblically as they used to when our nation was more closely tied to the beliefs of our forefathers. So now Christians must not assume that people think like they do. When you ask people about the afterlife the most common response is “I don’t know.” But then they usually share what they kind of believe in. Let’s take a look at the more common beliefs of the afterlife:
REINCARNATION: This is the belief that people are born in another body after they die. They live again for the better or worse according to how they lived in the past life (karma). This comes from Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, but New Age philosophy has also adopted it. It has become more popular in the West as people have explored these belief systems. Hollywood has also make this fashionable through its movies as well as modern song writers (Lennon, Harrison, etc.). It also fits well with the theory of evolution with its progressive nature. It is comparative to Christianity only by the similar terms it has in common such as “born again” and “paying for past deeds.”
ANNIHILATION: After death the spirit (if there is one) ceases to exist. Nothing survives. Death ends it all. Seldom held before the eighteenth century, materialism (as it is also called) is now a strong minority view in industrialized nations. It is the natural offspring of atheism. The natural and obvious result is pessimism as well as hedonism. Live for the now because there is no life beyond this one. (1 Cor 15:32) . . . "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
RESURRECTION: At death, the soul separates from the body and goes to be with the Lord. (2 Cor 5:8) . . . to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. At the future resurrection the body will come out of the grave and be united with the spirit in a new resurrected form. (1 Cor 15:52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Since the Bible is the inspired Word of God then we take the biblical view of the resurrection as true and accurate. If we don’t look into the Bible, then we are subject to our own theories and will end up with non-truth. And as we know, not having the right facts can lead to devastating results. There will be a judgment in the afterlife, but here’s the good news: (John 5:28-29) " . . . the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. So how can a person be ready for the afterlife?: (John 3:3) Jesus answered . . . "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." God judged your sins at the cross of His Son. Give your life to Jesus today!
Louie