Introduction
Belief in life after death is virtually a universal in human experience.
Skepticism about the afterlife is very recent historically, and in spite
of decades of this influence, at least 80% of Americans still believe in
life after death.
Why is this? The Bible says it is because God put it there (read Eccles. 3:11
NIV). All humans instinctively sense that they will go on living, and yet
we cannot understand more than this apart from God's revelation. This is
one way to understand human religions--as human attempts to explain the
spiritual longings that God has put in their hearts.
But God has put this sense in our hearts because he means to satisfy
it--and through the Bible he provides for us a much better hope than
anything human minds have imagined. It is a better hope for four reasons . . .
More information about the afterlife
First of all, the Bible gives us far more information (to be surveyed shortly) about
the afterlife than any other religion or "scripture." In fact, there is so much
detail that it is difficult to collate--but this is vastly preferable to the vague and
shadowy explanation offered by other religions.
Isn't this what we would expect if a loving God wrote a book for us? He would know
about the longing for eternity that he set in our hearts, our anguish over death, our
concern for deceased loved ones, etc. And he would want us to know what he has planned for
us. This is exactly what the Bible says God has done (read 1 Cor. 2:9,10).
A better afterlife
Secondly, the Bible describes a far better afterlife than any other view.
In the next life, God wants to give us is far more than just relief from
the negatives of this life (although he assures us he will "wipe away
every tear"), and far more than merely the continuation of this life.
Paul says it is "very much better" than this life. It is
so unimaginably wonderful in a positive sense that it far exceeds the
limits of human language to describe it (read 2 Cor. 12:4;
4:17). For this reason, scripture sometimes employs symbolic language,
a fact we must bear in mind lest we interpret biblical descriptions
of the next life in crassly literalistic ways.
Above all, the next life will be personal. Because God is a community of
Persons who love one another, and because we have been created in God's
image, we were made to enjoy perfect personal love relationships forever--most
of all with God, but also with other humans and angelic beings.
How different this is from the afterlife envisioned by animism (e.g.,
NATIVE AMERICAN; SHINTO), in which humans continue to exist consciously—but
not in the presence of God. Rather, they usually become disembodied
spirits who wander around or ancestral spirits who affect their living
relatives for good or ill depending on a variety of factors. This is
why ancestor worship is so important in many animistic religions.
How different this is from the afterlife in pantheism (e.g., HINDUISM
and BUDDHISM), in which people are reincarnated according to karmic
law. But this is only a way station on the path back to God. And since
God is ultimate oneness (not a Person), the fate that awaits all of
us is the loss of all personhood and absorption into the impersonal
oneness of the universe (DROP OF WATER INTO THE SEA).
"A real merging of the limited in the ocean of universal life
involves complete surrender of separative existence in all its forms."
"There is a sphere (nirvana) which is neither earth, nor water,
nor fire, nor air . . . (it is) the sphere of
nothingness . . . the end of suffering."
In addition to this, the Bible reveals a whole host of other things about
the next life (into which we will delve more deeply in coming weeks) which
corrects many myths you may have heard:
SHADOWY GHOSTS; DIAPERED BABIES vs. MAJESTIC & IMPERISHABLE BODIES
CLOUD-FLOATING & HARP-STRUMMING vs. PURPOSEFUL & FULFILLING
ACCOMPLISHMENT
BLISSFUL DAZE vs. FLAWLESS PERCEPTION & INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY
MONOTONOUS MUSIC vs. AESTHETIC & ARTISTIC PERFECTION
In summary, the next life will provide full satisfaction of every wholesome
human aspiration.
It almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Maybe this is just a classic
case of wish-fulfillment. This is why God has provided better evidence for this
afterlife than there is for any other view.
Better evidence
We have to understand a couple of important distinctions in this area.
Empirical certainty vs. sufficient evidence: Empirical certainty refers to
scientific proof of something that is accessible to our five senses through repeated
laboratory examination. Obviously, then, there is no empirical certainty of the
afterlife--it requires a step of faith. But that doesn't mean that all beliefs about the
afterlife are equally plausible or implausible, because some beliefs have more evidence
for them than others.
ANALOGY: If you need heart surgery, there is no way to have empirical certainty about
the outcome; you'll have to trust someone to perform it. But that doesn't mean that any
choice of trust that you make is equally plausible. You wouldn’t pick a name at
random out of a phone book, or ask your carpenter neighbor to do it. You would examine the
evidence for the best available person. You would talk only to heart surgeons, you'd ask
for references and get recommendations--and then you'd make a decision to trust.
Blind faith vs. evidence-based faith: The choice to trust anyone to
operate on you would be a step of blind faith. The choice to trust the heart surgeon with
the best references, etc. would be a step of evidence-based faith (LINES DIAGRAM).
In the same way, not all views of the afterlife have the same evidential credentials.
In fact, no other view comes close to the amount that Christianity provides. Consider
briefly these four lines of evidence that converge.
The Bible's unique and abundant record of fulfilled prophecy provides a basis for
trusting the veracity of its unfulfilled predictions (FAITH MAKES SENSE).
The evidence for Jesus' resurrection (JERUSALEM CHURCH; APOSTLES' MARTYRDOM) provides a
basis for trusting his claim that we can also overcome death through him
(1 Cor. 15:20). (DARLING OR CRAIG QUOTE)
You can experience the reality of a personal love relationship with Christ through his
Spirit (FRUIT). The New Testament calls this God's "down payment" that
guarantees that he will come through on his promises concerning the next life
(2 Cor. 5:4,5).
You can interact with Christians who are substantially delivered from the fear of death
(Heb. 2:15; MAYFAIR), and you can experience it for yourself.
Now for the best reason of all why the Bible's view of the afterlife is a better
hope . . .
A better offer
Other religions always make a desirable afterlife something you earn through good
works. And because they are based on works, they offer no assurance of a desirable
afterlife. In fact, the more devoutly you adhere to the other religions, the less
assurance you have.
For Muslims, the Qur’an teaches "Every man’s actions have we hung around
his neck, and on the last day shall be laid before him a wide-open book." (Sura
17:13) Sura 4:124 says, "If any do deeds of righteousness . . . and have
faith, they will enter heaven." But how good do your deeds have to be, and how many
of them? Muslims are told to observe the Five Pillars, but only Allah knows who will enter
heaven and who will go to hell.
"There is no assurance of eternal life until the Muslim reaches the day of
judgment at which time it is commonly understood that all will be made to walk over the
thin edge of a sword stretched across a deep abyss. Those who succeed will enjoy an
eternity of sensual paradise. Those who fail will be consigned to torment in the raging
fires of hell. Faith and good works during a person’s life are believed to give
assistance in passing this test. Muslims believe one’s good and bad works will be
weighed on a huge scale and influence whether he successfully crosses the abyss into
paradise."
Rabbinic Judaism (on which most modern Judaism is built) has the same problem. "At
the time of a man’s departure from this world, all his actions are detailed before
him . . . He agrees, and is then ordered to sign the record. He also
admits the justice of the verdict and declares, ‘Rightly hast Thou judged
me.’"
Therefore, Rabbi Zakkai laments at his imminent death: "Two paths now lie before
me, one leading to Paradise and the other to Gehinnom (hell), and I know not which I am
destined to take. Should I not then weep?"
In works-based versions of Christianity, we find the same problem. In the Catechism
of the Catholic Church we read, "Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can
then merit for ourselves . . . the graces needed for our
sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal
life." (It is a contradiction to speak of meriting grace for ourselves, because grace
means unmerited favor. This is like speaking of charity that you earned.)
Therefore, no one can know before they die whether they have eternal life. "Church
teaching is that I don’t know, at any given moment, what my eternal future will be. I
can hope, pray, do my very best—but I still don’t know. Pope John Paul II
doesn’t absolutely know that he will go to heaven, nor did Mother Theresa of Calcutta
. . ."
But the Bible teaches something very different. Eternal life is a free gift, because it
depends not on your good works for God, but only on Christ’s perfect and finished
work for you. Since the death of Christ pays the penalty for our sins, God makes the way
to heaven available completely apart from your works. If you are willing to put your
personal trust in Christ's payment, you are given the guarantee of eternal life.
Hundreds of biblical passages ring with this certainty!!! Read Jn. 3:16;
Rom. 6:23; Ps. 23:6; Lk. 23:43.
Conclusion
Very few people ever get the opportunity to make a decision that they
know will positively impact the rest of your life (COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP; SURE-THING
FINANCIAL INVESTMENT; JOB; MARRIAGE). But God extends this offer to every single person,
no matter how undeserving we've been, because of his great love for us. I guarantee you
that you will never regret this decision. You will never regret it in this life because
Christ will make your life immeasurably more meaningful and fulfilling. And even 10
million years from now, you'll still be marveling over the wonderful ramifications that
flow from this decision. God is offering you the gift of eternal life. You can receive
that gift today by simply agreeing with him that you need his forgiveness, and by humbly
asking him to apply Christ's death to your sins and take you to be with him forever. What
is your response to his offer?
NEXT: 2 judgments