You Only Live Once

Q: Have we lived past lives and what about visions pertaining to past lives?

A: My answer to both would have to be, "No." I don't believe we have lived past lives. I know there are those that believe in things like reincarnation, for example, but the evidence for such a thing is vague at best and has its roots in false religions and the pagan belief systems of the Far East. Personally, I take my guidance from the Bible which says, "just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:27-28)." The conclusion is that we live, die and then go on to our eternal reward or punishment; depending on what you did with Jesus Christ. Furthermore, when Jesus was dying on the cross, He turned to the thief next to Him and said, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43)." Again, more evidence that this life is all we get. When people talk about past lives I think most of them are speaking of things we can't really prove. There is no scientific data, that I know of, that has conclusively proven this sort of thing. Besides, our memories are so unreliable we can have a difficult time remembering things from earlier in the day much less what may have come from some "past life." Plus, it is all anecdotal.

Many people believe that their experience is the experience. Therefore, no matter how isolated it may be in regards to the general public they will hold on to it like it is gospel truth. Often times people mistake dreams for real events, etc. There is little concrete evidence to support any of it. But, one thing I want to add is not to discount the influence of demonic spirits. In Matthew 4, Jesus was tempted by Satan. While Satan was tempting Jesus it says that he took the Lord and made Him "stand on the highest point of the temple" and later he "took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor." These are things that give the impression that Satan used some sort of supernatural powers to try and tempt the Lord. If Satan can do this to the Lord, what could he or his minions do to the average person? Especially, your average individual who does not know God through faith in Jesus Christ. Afterall, the devil is the "god of this age" and scripture says, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4)." You see, it says the devil has "blinded the minds of unbelievers." Therefore, one can make the claim that all this talk of past lives is the fruit of a mind blinded to the things of God by the devil. The devil is, as Jesus proclaimed, "the father of lies (John 8:44)." Protect yourself from these lies no matter how sincere the people are who believe in them or how believable their stories seem. Trust the Lord to lead you into all truth.