One Life
It is said that life is like a coin. You can spend any way you want, but you can only spend it once. Each of us has a beginning and an end. Our life is linear not circular. The Bible states that, “it is appointed for man once to die and after that comes judgment,” (Heb. 9:27). With this view of life, there is moral responsibility. Every action has a reaction and every decision has a consequence. Because of this, each life has become extremely valuable and worth saving and caring for.
Some Eastern religions hold to the belief in reincarnation, which is a cyclical view of history. According to this belief system a person spirals up or down. After death, a person would come back into the earth as a lower or higher life form, depending on their karma accumulated while here on earth. Morality is reduced to subjectivity and the individual loses his importance. Reincarnation ends in futility as one resigns himself to the uncertainty of the future, hoping things will somehow get better in the next life.
This belief system has crept into the thinking many in today’s world, as Truth has been set aside, so that the momentary pleasures of sin can be indulged in. We should not be deceived. What a man sows, that will he reap. After this life comes judgment. We all must give account of the Life we have been given. Judgment is not based on the balancing of the good and bad deeds we have done. It is based on our response to Jesus.
Jesus came, once, to redeem us from our sins. Without His forgiveness, we are all lost. He died, once, in order to bear the sins of many. Receiving Jesus’ atonement, pardons us from eternal damnation. Because of Jesus, we are judged as righteous. If we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, it is as if we were crucifying once again the Lord Jesus. This is: “profaning the blood of the covenant,” and, “outraging the Spirit of grace,” (Heb. 10:26-29). Do you think there would be no consequences to the one who thus lives? Again the Word says: “For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people,’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:30-31).
Before we knew the grace of salvation, we were not free. Our life was already judged and condemned. Now, because of the blood of Jesus, we have been set free. Don’t use your freedom as an occasion for the flesh. Your life matters. It is a valuable trust; given to you by God and redeemed by Jesus. Live each day as if it were your last and fully enjoy the Lord’s presence.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Heb. 9:27-28; 10:19-31; I John 1:9-10, 2:1-6; Gal. 6:7