Reincarnation, Karma &…Life after Death

Do you have a choice regarding what happens after…you die? Is reincarnation real? Is there life after death?

by Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D.

People have always wondered what–if anything–lies beyond the grave. Is death the end of existence, an entry into eternity, or an intermission between earthly lives? Some teach that the soul reincarnates in many different bodies, and approximately 25 percent of Americans believe it. Why are so many people drawn to reincarnation?

Is Reincarnation The Chance at a ‘Do-over’?

Reincarnation offers hope to many. If we don’t get it right in this life, we have another chance the next time around. Yet, even those who believe in reincarnation admit that the vast majority of humans do not remember their previous lives. How can we learn from our past mistakes if we cannot remember them? We seem to make the same mistakes over and over again. Given the moral failure rate of human history, do we have any reason to hope that we will get it right in a future lifetime?

Reincarnation also claims to insure justice. According to the law of karma (an unbending and impersonal rule of the universe), we get what we deserve in every life. Our good and bad deeds produce good and bad results from lifetime to lifetime. With karma, there is supposedly no unjust suffering, because no one is innocent. All suffering is deserved on the basis of bad karma. The baby born without legs deserved it, as did the woman who was raped. We all carry our karma into each life. There is no grace, no forgiveness, no mercy. Not only is this not good news for those burdened down with the weight of a troubled conscience, but karma also conflicts with our moral sense that some suffering is undeserved and deserves our pity and our actions to alleviate it.

The Limitations of Reincarnation

Can reincarnation realistically offer hope and a sense of justice to a troubled world? And what comfort does it offer regarding the nagging problem of death? The law of karma is unmerciful. Yet the message of Jesus Christ is different. Jesus did not deny there is unjust suffering. He offered forgiveness for those who inflict it and comfort for those that experience it.

Jesus taught that no one can keep the moral law. The human heart is impure, given to wrong attitudes and actions which are offences against a loving and absolutely good God. Jesus said he offers us forgiveness as our saviour, himself paying for our offences against God. Jesus spoke of people receiving either eternal reward or eternal punishment according to whether they accept his forgiveness during their ONE lifetime on earth……Matthew 25:31-46…"But when the Son of Man(a title Jesus used for himself.) comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then…He will sit upon his glorious throne. …All the nations (Or peoples)will be gathered in his presence, …and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. …He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. …For I was hungry, and you fed me. …I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. …I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. …I was naked, and you gave me clothing. …I was sick, and you cared for me. …I was in prison, and you visited me.'

"Then these righteous ones will reply, …'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? …Or thirsty and give you something to drink? …Or a stranger and show you hospitality? …Or naked and give you clothing? …When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[c] you were doing it to me!'"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.( his angels).…For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

"Then they will reply, 'Lord, …when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'…"And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'…"And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."……Hebrews 9:27…And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

Jesus explained that he came into the world to save the lost…Luke 19:10…For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."…He said that he “did not come to be served, but to serve…Mark 10:45…For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."…Jesus showed his forgiving love even while being executed on a cross. A thief on a cross next to Jesus confessed his sin and asked Jesus to remember him.…Luke 23:43…And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."… Only faith in Jesus was required for paradise, not lifetime after lifetime of working off bad karma and building up good karma. As Jesus announced:…John 3:16…"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.……That, indeed, is good news–for this life and beyond.