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Fallacies, Facts, and Comments
About Life After Death
Years ago Reader’s Digest had an article about people who have
experienced “clinical death,” revived and told what happened while they
were “dead”. They tell of beautiful music, bright lights etc. Many
times at a funeral the preacher will say the deceased is in a better
place called heaven. What do think the life after death will be like?
Here are some fallacies, facts and comments about the life after death.
Fallacy #1:
“Clinical death reports now prove what the life after death will be
like.”
Fact: Those clinical death reports do not really prove anything. One reason
is that while unconscious a person could have a dream, nightmare etc.
When revived, if they learned their heart had stopped, they might think
their dreams were real. More could be said about this but our main
point is that clinical death reports are not a safe guide to determine
what life after death will be like.
Fallacy #2:
“There are not any “infallible proofs” of what life after death will
be like.”
Fact: Consider this; there is on record of someone who came back from the
dead. Twelve times by many witnesses he was seen alive after his
burial. These appearances continued over a period of forty days and at
one time were witnessed by more than five hundred persons. Some of
these witnesses talked with him and even saw and felt the nail prints in
his hands and feet where he was fastened to the cross. The Apostle Luke
has correctly termed these “infallible proofs,” (Acts 1:3). Of course
I’m speaking of Jesus Christ of the Bible. Now don’t get “turned off”
just because I mentioned His name. After all He is an authority on this
subject. In John 5:28-29, He says “... for the hour is coming in the
which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall
come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and
they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.” So the
infallible teaching of Christ tells us that life after death will be
either “life” (eternal life in heaven) or “damnation” (eternal
separation from God in hell). Please read on.
Fallacy # 3:
“For most people life after death will be in heaven.”
Fact: According to the Bible - Matthew 7:13-14 only a “few” will go to
heaven. Most are on the broad way that leads to destruction. In fact
many religious folks who think they are going to heaven
will be surprised on Judgment Day. (Analyze Matt. 7:2l-23-Jesus
speaking). So far this may sound negative or like bad news but good news
is coming, so please read on.
Fallacy # 4:
“We cannot be certain in this life where we will be in the next life.”
Comment:
We often hear people say they hope or think they will go to heaven.
There need not be any uncertainty of where we will spend eternity in
the next life. There are only two choices: heaven or hell; and they are
choices, not chances. God has given each of us the freedom or power of
choice. If we choose the strait and narrow way leading to heaven, no
man, government, spirit, - nothing can keep us from going there.
If we choose to stay on the broad way that leads to hell, God Himself
will not override our choice. His offer is to: “whosoever will,” (Rev.
22:l7). After death our choice is forever settled.
Fact: There is a great gulf fixed that we cannot cross over, (Luke 16:26).
Comment:
Now I know it is easy to try to avoid this issue, but by doing nothing,
we are still choosing, choosing hell! For every one of us
inherited a sinful nature and when we reached a certain age we found we
had disobeyed God’s laws. These acts of disobedience separated us from
God and put us on the broad way to hell. So unless we get reconciled to
God before death it is certain that hell will be our eternal abode. Now
the good news is that we can be reconciled back to God through His son,
Jesus Christ. Most of us have heard the story of how Christ willingly
died on the cross as a sacrifice to make atonement for our sins,
thereby making reconciliation possible. However, one thing that many
apparently do not know is the true conditions necessary to be met to
make this possibility a reality for us. Bowing our head and saying we
accept Jesus as our personal Savior and then confessing our sins each
night will not get us off the broad way that leads to hell! This
“accepting Christ” and “nightly confessing” business is one of the ways
many religious folks are already deceived. The very reason we got into
trouble with God in the first place was because of our acts of
disobedience. Therefore to get reconciled with Him, these acts must not
only be confessed but forsaken, (Prov. 28:13 and Isa. 55:7).
For God to be able to forgive us we must be sorry we have sinned
against Him, (II Cor. 7:10). Sorry enough to be willing to quit doing
them. This is what true repentance is all about. If we are asking
forgiveness each night, then we are not truly repenting, because we are
not yet willing to give them up. We may get our conscience soothed a
little this way, just as we would if we confessed to some man; but we
will not get pardoned until we are willing to quit sinning. Now someone
may ask: “What if I forsake sin, get saved and then disobey again? The
answer is when you disobeyed again; you got back onto the broad way and
would need to be saved again to go to heaven, (James 5:19-20). But let
me explain briefly how that need not happen. It starts with a drastic
change in our thinking and a willingness to change our life style. For
we must come to the place where we can see the “exceeding sinfulness” of
our sinful acts. Then when we cry out to God for forgiveness, He sees
that we are sincere about forsaking sin and the worldly life, He
works miracle in our life. The miracle of regeneration. The guilt of
our sins rolls away, the fear of the judgment is erased, (the sting of
death is sin I Cor. 15:56) and that emptiness we had is filled with
God’s love. Regardless of what lies ahead for us we have contentment
knowing that the major decision in life has been made. We have new
desires, and a different outlook on life. We are a new creature in
Christ, (II Cor. 5:17). This is what being born again is all about.
With this miraculous experience comes a power to abstain from sinning
when temptation comes our way, (I Cor. 10:13). Eventually we will come
down off cloud nine and this is where many lose out. For even though
all our committed sins have been forgiven, we still have that old sinful
nature we inherited. This carnal nature will pull us back into sin even
after being gloriously and genuinely saved. But God has a second
miracle available for us. The entire sanctification of our very nature.
It is God’s will that we go on to this second work of grace; be filled
or baptized with His spirit. This second experience destroys that
carnal nature, purifies our heart and supplies additional power for
service and living holy consistently. This is what being baptized with
the Holy Ghost is all about. This experience is also received by
faith. Now you will find in much of the religious world that this
second miracle is either ignored, denied or counterfeited. So our final
piece of advice is to ask God to lead you where this second cleansing is
taught and lived out. In spite of the maze of religious confusion,
lukewarmness and worldly churchanity, God yet has a people upholding
His truth. At a true congregation of the church of God, you can get
your soul fed—on truth. Yes, God has a people who have the best of both
worlds. Happiness and victory over sin in this world and the
assurance of heaven in the world to come. Remember that the life after
death is our choice.
Bill Roberts
Gospel Truth and Publications, P.O. Box 142, Jackson Center, OH 45334
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