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The Quest for Immortality
by Gerhard Marx
In recent years major museums have played
host to a special exhibition that spotlights pre-Christian Chinese civilization.
The most spectacular facet of the exhibit features the concept of the afterlife and
to what extent the ancient Chinese tried to ensure their immortality. In an attempt
to thwart death, the Chinese, like the Egyptians before them, employed meticulous
methods in their quest for everlasting life.
Said The Times (London), which sponsored the exhibition at the British Museum:
"If the Chinese had not believed so passionately in the spirit world and the
afterlife, they would never have ensured that their tombs carried such resplendent
cargoes. The wealth of refined bronzes, jades and ceramics installed there testifies
to the importance of their faith in life after death" (Sept. 10, 1996).
The Times continued: "Avoiding death was all important. Another way this
might be achieved was by ensuring that the body was transformed into a light jade-like
substance, by following special diets and exercise regimes."
What Happens After Death?
As did the ancients, some moderns go to great lengths to hold onto life. Yet
no one can for long forestall the divine decree recorded in the creation epic: "For
dust you are, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19).
On the other hand, the Creator of the human race decreed a way to attain everlasting
life, a fail-safe formula for gaining eternal existence backed up by the highest
source of authority in the world, His own Word. A beauty of it is that this opportunity
is available as a gift to all, not just a select few.
God's Word records that the patriarch Job posed a poignant question about life and
death: "If a man dies, shall he live again?" Job's answer was unequivocal.
"All the days of my hard service will I wait, till my change come" (Job 14:14).
This patriarch's firm belief was based on God's promise of a miraculous change, a
time of transformation to immortal spirit--not just a perpetuation of his physical
life.
The Hebrew prophet Daniel provides us another brief glimpse into the next world,
through an archangel's words: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake . . . Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness
of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (will shine) like the
stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:2-3).
Preparing to be Immortal
The apostle Paul explains this remarkable change, telling us that "this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality"
(1Corinthians 15:54).
He makes this point clear when he says: "So also is the resurrection of the
dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in
dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It
is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body" (verses 42-44).
Yet death of the physical body is inevitable. The Bible writers describe it as a
temporary sleep, a state of complete unconsciousness (Ecclesiastes 9:5; 1Thessalonians 4:13). King David was one of those writers. "For in death there is no remembrance
of you," he said in a prayer to God; "in the grave who shall give you thanks?"
(Psalm 6:5).
Paul elaborates: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the
firstfruits of those that are fallen asleep (have died). For since by man came death,
by Man (Christ) came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ all shall be made alive" (1Corinthians 15:20-22).
To come back to life, one must first die. The only way anyone can inherit eternal
life is through a resurrection.
Candidates for Immortality
Who is a candidate for eternal life? What must one do to live forever?
Anyone who accepts Jesus Christ's offer of the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23)
must live by the code of conduct expounded by Christ Himself when He told the rich,
young ruler to keep the Ten Commandments (Matthew 19:17-19). The Commandments serve
as the foundation of God's law. They tell us how to express love to our fellow human
beings and how to love God.
Just acknowledging the name of Christ will not do. "But why do you call me `Lord,
Lord,' and do not the things which I say?" asked Jesus Himself (Luke 6:46).
Furthermore, "not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
Ancient Egyptians and Chinese clothed and treated the physical body to preserve it
and in a futile attempt to achieve eternal life. Our quest for immortality can be
fulfilled only if we walk as Jesus walked (1John 2:6; 1Peter 2:21), just as Abraham
did when the patriarch expressed his humble attitude: "I . . . am
but dust and ashes" (Genesis 18:27).
God alone provides us with the way to eternal life. We can read about it in His Word,
the Bible.
Many of the points we could only briefly mentioned here are covered in detail in
the booklet
What Happens After Death? Please
request your free copy by contacting us at the address of your country (or the country
nearest you) or via our Web site, www.ucg.org.
© 1999-2022 United Church of God an International Association
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