Reincarnation?

I have probably drawn a lot of people to this blog solely due to the title, REINCARNATION. I hope I have. It's an interesting subject; reincarnation. It's also called rebirth or transmigration and is a part of the Samsara doctrine of cyclic existence. Reincarnation is the central tenant of all major Indian religions: Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. It is, therefore, a religious belief. Does the Bible confirm reincarnation? The word reincarnation derives from Latin and literally means entering the flesh again. People hold the notion of reincarnation for many reasons. For them, it makes sense. But does it really exist? Can we physically come back? Can the soul enter flesh again for another actual birth? I definitely believe in rebirth! The Bible does teach rebirth! However, rebirth and entering a womb for a second, third, fourth or even a fifth time and returning to this earth is not what I believe, nor is it the truth. Here is the Truth: There was a man by the name of Nicodemus who basically was asking Jesus regarding reincarnation after Jesus told him that no man will ever see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again. Nicodemus misunderstood what re-birth Jesus was implying (and so do all Eastern religions who preach reincarnation). Nicodemus asks Jesus, John 3:3 " How can someone be born again when they are old? Surely they cannot enter into their mother's womb a second time to be born?" Before I continue, wasn't Nicodemus basically asking how can a man be reincarnated without him actually using the word reincarnated? Jesus told Nicodemus what rebirth is..." Verily verily I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again." Jesus distinctly points out the difference between a flesh/womb/reincarnated rebirth, and a non-flesh/ spiritual rebirth. Jesus is pointing to spiritual rebirth, not a physical one! Reincarnation is having to do with the flesh and is nothing more than a man-made religious belief. Had a flesh reincarnation been the rebirth to which Jesus was implying, Jesus would have simply answered Nicodemus, "Yes, you must be reborn through the womb," but He did not!

Consider another truth that there is no such thing as reincarnation. I'm going to put this as simply as I can. GOD'S WORD SAYS: "It is appointed unto men to die once after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). The Maker of the Universe, the One who made us flesh, the One who breathed the breath of life into each of us and made us living souls said WE DIE ONCE. Reincarnation requires you to die again and again and again. So who is right? God or religion? God or mans logic? God or your own personal feelings and interpretations? God or the many books of fiction that line the shelves of libraries and bookstores? God or what so many want to be true? Do we really want the truth no matter how disappointing that truth may feel to us? Do you think God would lie to us because I don't! Let me give you a few more things to consider about flesh and death.

1. James 4:14 "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." If you really had more lives to live, the word "vanish" would have been excluded from the text! **If reincarnation were a possibility, that last line would have said, 'for you are a mist that appears for a time, disappears, then returns anew.'
2. Ecclesiastes 3:2 mentions there is "a" time to be born and "a" time to die (singular). ** If reincarnation were a possibility that should have been written, 'times to live and times to die. (plural).
3. Psalm 90:12 "So teach us the number of our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." ** If reincarnation were a possibility perhaps it should have read 'teach us the number of our lives. (plural)
4. Job 14:5 states mans "days are determined." (the word determined means set) **If reincarnation were real, wouldn't you think that should have read, 'mans lives are not determined for they are numerous!'


You and I are dying. Each day we awake we can subtract one day from our "appointed time" Job 14:5. Only God Himself knows how many days He has ordained/appointed for you or I. He alone is the author of life and death. He has the power to shorten or prolong our lives. Genesis 27:2 " I don't know the day of my death." Psalm 31:15 "My time is in Your hand." That said, since we are not certain of seeing tomorrow, wouldn't it be madness to put off the necessary work of repentance today, especially because no other earth life will ever come according to the scriptures I've shown you? After our death will come the judgment as I noted above (Hebrews 9:27). So then if you neglect to ask for forgiveness and repentance today and be reborn as Jesus instructs (because without being born again He said no man will enter the Kingdom of God), if you refuse to heed His warning that He sent His only Son to save you from your sin (John 3:16), upon your death you may hear the words, " Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand with no regard; you refused all my counsel, and wouldn't have any of my reproofs: I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock you when your fear comes; when your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you. (NOTE! I think this calamity, distress, desolation is hell) Then will you cry out to me, but I will not answer; you will seek me quickly, but you will not find me. Because you hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord" (Proverbs 1:24-29).

This is the day of grace. You have but one life, this life. It will be too late to seek mercy when the day of judgment comes. There is no other flesh birth awaiting you. If you die without Christ, the Bible says it would have been better for you if you had never been born (Mark 14:21); for it would be better to have had no existence at all, than have a miserable eternity in hell. This is the portion of every unpardoned, unconverted sinner. My advice is the same as found in Isaiah 55:6,7 ..."Seek the Lord while He may still be found, call upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." There is a rebirth. There is no reincarnation. Until next time ...
-Pat-