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Where Do We Go From Here?
Rarely does a day go by when
we don't read or hear of a senseless tragedy, a life cut short.
A drunk driver plows into a car, killing an entire family. A child drowns, ending
a life that had scarcely begun. A lonely and troubled teenager ends her torment by
taking her own life. A madman, heeding the call of his personal demons, guns down
several people who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In a dusty,
drought-stricken wasteland, a hungry mother cradles her emaciated son as the light
slowly ebbs from his eyes.
We wonder at the meaning and the randomness of it all and think to ourselves that
we're glad it wasn't us.
The Good News is dedicated to answering the big questions of life: Why are
we here? Where are we going? Is there a God, and if so why does He allow suffering
and tragedies? What do we face at the end of this life?
Regardless of our hopes and dreams, one thing's for sure: We all face the certainty
of death. Whether through illness, accident, random violence or old age, we will
die.
What does this mean? Is death the end? Is life a brief moment of consciousness in
an eternity of nothingness?
The late astronomer and author Carl Sagan wondered about these questions as he saw
his own death approaching. ìI would love to believe that when I die I will live again,
that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue,î he said. ìBut,
much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions
that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful
thinking.î
Is this what we have to look forward to?
Dr. Sagan, like thousands of scientists before and since, spent decades trying to
discover the meaning of life and how it began, but without success. In spite of his
brilliance, he spent his life looking for answers in all the wrong places.
He didn't heed the advice of King Solomon, whose words speak to us from antiquity
and reveal to us where we should begin our search for answers to the great questions.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy
One is understanding,î he wrote (Proverbs 9:10).
To understand what happens after death, shouldn't we look to the words of the One
who gave us life? Wouldn't the Creator of life be the One best to explain the mystery
of death?
Over the millennia mankind has evolved all kinds of ideas about the possibility of
life after death. Millions believe in reincarnation, that they will live again with
a new human or animal body. Millions more believe we possess immortal souls, that
though our physical bodies may die our souls live forever.
Many believe we are destined for eternal bliss in heaven or everlasting torment in
hell. Some think God predestined each of us for one of those fates, that, regardless
of our words and deeds, at death some will receive eternal ecstasy and others eternal
agony.
Such beliefs, however, raise even more questions. For example, why would anyone want
to worship a God who would willingly and deliberately torture some of His children
in hell forever?
Many people are shocked to find their beliefs about what happens after death aren't
found in the Bible at all but came from philosophers and pre-Christian religions.
Such beliefs often paint a distorted view of God and His purpose for us.
Where do we go from here? That's a good question, and you need to know the answers.
A good place to start is in the pages of your Bible and this issue of The Good
News.
--Scott Ashley
© 1999-2022 United Church of God an International Association
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Keywords: life after death immortal soul heaven hell Sagan, Carl predestination
Predestination: