It would be difficult to believe tht life is good if we knew ther was nothing beyond the grave to compensate for problems of inequality and unfainess. While some people seem destined for happiness, others are born into terrible relationships and circumstances. If we could be sure there was nothing to offset unequal distribution of suffering, many would have reason to curse the day of their birth for the way life has treated them (Job 3:13). We could agree with King Solomon who at a low point in his life said, "I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun; I saw the tears of the oppressedand they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressorand they have no comforter. And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun" (Eccl. 4:13NIV).
Beauty And Balance
There is much about life that doesn't seem to correspond with personal problems of unfairness and hardship. but for all that is hurtful and unequal, there is beauty and balance. For moment of horror and violence, there are times of harmony and peace. As ageworn bodies succumb to pain and weakness, children and young animals play with carefree joy. Human art, in all of its glory, corresponds to birds in playful flight and morning song. Each sunset and dawn provides and answer to nature's need for rest and renewal that “this too shall pass.” If there is nothing beyond the grave, the pattern of nature is stunningly incomplete.
NearDeath Experiences
The clinical evidence for life after death is sujective and arguable. It's often hard to assess the significance of “out of the body experiences,” encounters with bright lights, long tunnels, or angelic guides. It's difficult to know how to respond to those who speak of temporary neardeath visions into heaven or hell. Waht we do know is that there are enough of these kinds of experiences to create a sizable library on the subject. Taken as a whole, this body of evidence show that as people approach death, many sense they are coming not to the end of existence but to the beginning of another journey.
A Place In The Heart
The human heart hungers for more than this life offers. Each of us experiences what King Solomon called "eternity in [our] hearts" (Eccl. 3:11). While it is difficult to know what Solomon meant, it is apparent that he was referring to an inescapable longing for simething this wolrd cannot satisfy. It was an emptiness of soul that Solomon could not excape. To a while, he tried to fill this inner viod with work, alcohol, and laughter. He tried to satisfy his longings with philosophy, music, and sexual relationships. but his disillusnionment grew. Only when he returned to his confidence in a final judgement and afterlife could he find something large enough to satisfy his longing for sagnificance (Eccl. 12:14).
Universal Beliefs
While some believe it's impossible to know whether there is life after death, belief in immortaliy is a timeless phenomenon. From the pyramids of Egyptians to the reincarnation of New Age thinking, people of all times and places in history have believed that the human soul survives death. If there is no consciousness or laughter or regret beyond the grave, then life has fooled almost everyone from the Pharoahs of Egypt to Jesus of Nazareth.
An Eternal God
The Bible names God as the source of immortality. It describes His nature as eternal. The same Scriptures tell us that God created us in His likeness, and that His plan is to welcome His children eventually into His eternal home. The Scriptures also teach that God introduced death into human experience whe our first ancestors trespassed into darkness of forbidden territoy (Genesis 3:119). The implicatin is that if God allowed the human race to live forever in a rebellious condition, we would have unending opportunity to develop into proud, self-centered creatures. Instead, God began to unfold a plan that would ultimately result in the eternal homecoming of all who chose to be a peace with Him (Psa 90:1; John 14:13).
Old Testament Predictions
Some have argued that immortality is a New Testament idea. But the Old Testament prophet Daniel spoke of a day when those who sleep in the dust of the earth will be resurrected, some to life an some to everlasting shame (Daniel 12:13). An author of the Psalms also spoke of the afterlife. In the 73rd Psalm a man named Asaph described how he almost lost his faith in God when he considered how evil people prospered and the godly suffered. but then he said he went into the sanctuary of God. From thee perspective of worship, he suddenly saw evil standing on the slippary ground of their morality. With new insight he confessed, “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is non upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psa 73:2426).
Quotes Of Christ
Few would accuse Jesus of being an evil man or a false teacher. Even atheists and people belonging to nonChristian religions usually refer to Jesus with deference and respect. But Jesus wasn't vague or indefinite about the reality of a continuing personal existence after death. he said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both sould and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Jesus promised Paradise to the repentant thief who was dying at His side, but He also used the Valley of Hinnoma foul garbage dump outside of Jerusalemas a symbol of what awaits those who insist on risking the judgment of God. According to Jesus, facing the reality of life after death is the most significant issue of life. He said, for example, that if an eye keeps you from God, you have reason to get rid of that eye. “It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell” (Mark 9:47NIV).
The Resurrection of Christ
There is no greater evidence for the existence of life after death than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament predicted a Messiah who would overcome sin and death for His people (Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:26). The testimony of Jesus' followers is that He did just that. He voluntarily die at the hands of executioners, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and then 3 days later left that tomb empty. Witnesses said that they had seen not only an empty tomb but a resurrected Christ who appeared to hundreds of people over a period of 40 days before ascending to heaven (Acts 1:111; 1 Corinthians 15:18).
Practical Effects
Belief in life after death is a sourc of personal security, optimism, and spiritual betterment (1 John 3:2). Nothing offers more courage than the confidence that there is a better life for those who use the present to prepare for eternity. Belief in the unlimited opportunities of eternity has enabled many to make the ultimate sacrifice of their own life in behalf of those they love. It was His belief in life after death that enabled Jesus to say, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). It is the same truth that prompted Christian martyr Jim Elliot, who was killed in 1956 by the Auca Indians to say, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
font size="5">You're Not Alone if you find yourself honestly unconvinced about life after death. But keep in mind that Jesus promised to give divine help to those who want to know the truth so as to surrender to it. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own” (John 7:17NIV).
If you see the evidence for life after death, remember that the Bible says Christ died to pay the price for our sins, and that all who believe in Him will receive the gifts of forgiveness and everlasting life. The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for effort but a gift to all who in light of the evidence put their trust in Him.
If we can help you with your questions or send additional materials showing the reasonableness of believing in a God who alows suffering, please write or call us at 1-800-598-7221.
This is a free product from RBC Ministries of Grand Rapids, MI 49555-0001. It is a beautiful detailed "10 Reasons to Believe" brochure in a set of nine brochures.
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