Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.
People sometimes make references to coming back as something else in the next life without actually subscribing to that ideology, but there are many who do believe this teaching. However, this New Age thinking runs counter to the Bible, which teaches that once a person dies, he or she faces the judgment of God and an eternal destiny in heaven or hell. There is no second chance after death.
Hebrews 9:27-28 (NKJV)
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Buddhism and Hinduism both teach reincarnation and that one can eventually escape being continually reborn earth, although they are slightly different.
“Buddhists desire to attain ‘Nirvana,’ which means ultimate heaven and escape from reincarnations. Before Nirvana, one keeps on being reborn on earth—which is undesirable.
There are various levels of heavens, varying in pleasure; and a series of hells, varying in pain. The heavens are wonderful places, where there is plenty of food and no sickness. Hell is where terrible things happen.
By being compassionate, one may build up good karma, which assures that one is reborn into a higher existence. Heaven is nice but does not necessarily lead to Nirvana. One reaches Nirvana only when one understands the nature of reality.” (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.)
One problem with this kind of thinking is that it depends on good works alone for salvation. The Bibles teaches a revolutionary truth. One can depend on the grace of God alone for salvation through His Son, Jesus. What we cannot accomplish ourselves, Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Colossians 1:19-20 (NKJV)
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Good karma and bad karma are phrases you hear a lot today. Good Savior sounds a lot more inviting to me. One can escape the “undesirable” through simple faith in the one and only living Savior - Jesus. What good news! 02-17-09
All comic strips are use with written permission from www.comics.com
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