Dilemma Of Immortality And Reincarnation

There are conceptual philosophies about immortality and
re-incarnation of humanity. In the genesis account, it was recorded that man was made from the dust of the earth and the lifeless molded image became a living soul when the Creator (God) breathed into his nostrils the breath of life – Genesis 2 v 7. Invariably, the totality of human being and any creature with flesh and blood is a soul which is subject to death and decay (i.e. mortality) as propounded in Ezekiel 18 v 4 and also 2Kings 14 v 6. The mortality or death of a soul came as a result of sin brought about by disobedience to the express instructions and commandments of Jehovah.
The question is: are human beings immortal? Reference to the 43rd Edition of Questions That Touch The Mind series at page 7 of THE BEACON tabloid reflected on Friday, September 28 – October 2, 2014 by Engr. (Chief) O. O. Oruye (JP), who described the soul as “the intelligent part of the human being. It is immortal and is capable of reincarnating several times to have relevant experiences”. Engr. Oruye equally quoted the statement of Jesus “before Abraham, I AM” as well as “that John the Baptist was Elijah”. Furth ermore, that John F. Kennedy was said to be a re-incarnate of Abraham Lincoln etc.
However, the conception of immortality and re-incarnation should be understood in the right perspective as contained in the Holy Scriptures. Really, King David asserted that when the breath which made man a living soul is off the soul (total body system of man), then it becomes lifeless and all about the man is perished – Psalm 146 v 4. In the same vein, the Wiseman King Solomon also opined that it is the living that is conscious of being subject to death (mortal), whereas those that are dead (unconscious) do not know anything and all about their memory is forgotten. For instance, the electric which light shines visibly is constituted of three elements viz: cable, current and physical bulb. Truly, the central focus that makes the light shine through the bulb is the ‘current’ or power generating element.
Of course, when the current that empowers the light to shine is switched off, the cable and the bulb became dead or useless. This is equivalent to the condition of soul without the enabling power or energy. Therefore, the stern advice is; whatsoever your hands find capable of doing while alive, do it with all your strength because there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave at death – Ecclesiates 9 vs 5 and 10. Hence, if the aforestated characteristics are not visible at death, where is the philosophy of immortality and re-incarnation in this dispensation of sinful environment?
Speaking frankly, immortality shall only be restored and conferred upon the present mortal body of mankind when Jesus returns again to harvest His obedient children at the end of the great controversies between Christ and Satan and between sin and righteousness whereby the corruptible shall be replaced with incorruption while mortality shall be replaced with immortality, a body that cannot rot and die any longer. In fact, death will no longer exist because it has been swallowed in the victory of Jesus Christ – 1 Corinthians 15 vs 50-57.
Reincarnation is another misconception by different schools of thought. It is obvious that before Abraham was I AM, Jesus acclaimed as He responded to a sensitive and technical question posed to him. This assertion does not in any way connote that Jesus was re-incarnated but was ‘incarnated’ that is the taking of a bodily form by God in Jesus for the redemption of fallen humanity. This is a mystery beyond human philosophy and comprehension. In another dimension, Prophet Elijah proclaimed the word of God with all boldness without fear and favour during the Old Testament dispensation, pointing to the end time events that would be capsulated in the Second Coming of Jesus.
Herein, someone in the similitude of Elijah shall equally emerge towards the End Time and proclaim the message of hope with all boldness as it was in the old time which manifested in the person of John the Baptist whom Jesus Himself applauded as the greatest born of a woman. John The Baptist was the voice crying in the Wilderness – repent for the kingdom of God is at hand, preparing and making straight the way of the Lord – John 1 vs 21-23; Luke 1 v 17; 1 Kings chapters 17 and 18 respectively.
Without mincing words, the fallacy of retrospective root to the fables of the Arch-enemy of God (Lucifer/Satan) when he reframed the directive of God to the first lady of humanity (Madam Eve) in the lofty Garden of Eden with the statement “Ye shall not surely die” – Genesis 3v4. This is a falsehood that has eaten deep into the marrows of so many believers in Christ Jesus who find it difficult to wriddle themselves out of the religious dilemma.
Of course, reincarnation is the manipulation and teachings of falsehood masterminded by Satan to unbelievers of the Truth, contrary to the express proclamation of God to mankind from creation. Man was blessed to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth … and have absolute dominion over other creatures – Genesis 1 vs 26-28. The divine proclamations to the first couple implies that they would reproduce human beings by procreation from generation to generation until they occupy the spectrum of the earth as God has designed it and not through the process of death and reincarnation otherwise, the wisdom of God in those blessings to man kind would be questionable and counter-productive.
The tale or parable of the death of both the rich-man and the poor beggar Lazarus as focused in Luke 16 vs 19-31 is a remarkable case study. Actually, both personalities died when it was time for them to pass on. However, the mystery of this episode was that the situation changed dramatically as the rich-man found himself in a place of terrible punishment, while he viewed Lazarus in a place of gladness under the bosom of father Abraham who has equally died several decades ago. It is a parable to teach a lesson of carefulness while alive because there is no consciousness at death.
The issue of immortality and reincarnation of human beings in this sinful system is not realistic and unbiblical. It is purely the craftiness of Satan who specializes in deceit. The Bible described Satan as a thief, destroyer and killer (John 10 v 10). Philosophers should not depend solely on abstract knowledge for it is written that my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because they also rejected knowledge …. Hosea 4 v 6 refers. Finally, the Great Philosopher – Master Jesus has directed mankind to search the Scriptures where lies the Truth and eternal life – John 5 v 39.
Ominyanwa is a public affairs analyst.

Goddey Ominyanwa