Many people
will say that they believe in the existence of a supernatural force or a god. If we take two such people and ask them to
describe or define the god of their belief, we may get two different answers. If we
direct the same question to a third person who also says he believes in God, we may get
yet another description of God. Furthermore,
when these people realize they have different gods, they may not feel comfortable with
each other. What makes people think that their god is not the same as someone else's
god? If this god is the same god who created
us and everything around us, why can't people accept Him as the same for all of us?
Our
Creator is the Same
God has
always been the same God, the same Creator since the beginning. It is the people who make a god for themselves in
place of the one true God, based on their conjecture and wishful thinking, tojustity their
way of life.
One of the
major reasons why people do not take time to seek the truth about God is that they either
have doubts or wrong ideas about life after death and their accountability. This is even though most will say that they
believe in the Hereafter.
This
Life is Temporary, Next Life is Eternal
God teaches
us in the Ouran that this first life is a temporary illusion. What is important is the Hereafter, which is the
eternal abode (40:39). Can you imagine living
in a place for eternity, especially if this is a place that you would not want to live in
for a second? Do we ever think we might end
up in Hell?
The majority
of people do not want to even think about the possibility that they could be in Hell
forever. Some even joke around by saying that
they prefer Hell because the most entertaining people will be there. That may very well be true, but in what
conditions? There is not a single scripture
that mentions Hell in desirable terms. It is
not a place anyone would like to stay for eternity.
Yet, some people do not seem to be worried at all about what Hell is going
to be like. They think of the Hereafter as
being so far away in time that, even if it turns out to be true, they are surely clever
enough to figure out how to avoid Hell then (18:36).
Actions
Better Than Words
When people
say they believe in the Hereafter, do they really mean it or is it just hp service? A person who really befieves in the Hereafter and
worries about the consequences of his actions will not disregard God's message. He (or she) will always seek the truth and the
path to God. He will research and make sure
that the religious beliefs he has been brought up with are divine, and not man-made. After all, it will be his own neck on the line.
Unfortunately,
many people who do research carefully before getting their houses, jobs, cars, and so on,
are not very inquisitive about the correctness of the religious beliefs they are brought
up with. When it comes to religion, people's
cornmon sense and intellect seem to operate in a completely different level. "Faith" becomes the common answer to
avoid questions and to justify a "I'm happy with what I'm doing, don't rock the
boat" lifestyle. Therefore, most people
turn away from the true message when it comes to them without studying it, even though
this message is essential to their success in the eternal life. These are the people who prefer this life at the
expense of the Hereafter (2:86). Thus, they
trade away the covenant they made with God, and their obligations, for a cheap price. Consequently, they receive no share in the
Hereafter (3:77).
Time
For Universal Unity
It is time
for the people of all religions who really believe in the Hereafter to leave their worldly
differences and come together under the One God, the same God of us all, the Creator. As He has promised, we can enjoy this life without
losing our share in the Hereafter. Therefore,
let us value God as He should be valued, and devote ourselves totally to Him alone. After all, we will be all returned to Him - for
certain.
Only those who repent, reform,
holdfast to God and devote their religion
absolutely to God alone, will be counted with
the believers. God will bless the believers
with a great recompense.
(Quran, 4:146)
Say, "I have been commanded to
worship God, devoting the religion absolutely to Him alone. "And I was commanded to be the
utmost submiuer." Say, "I fear,
if I disobeyed my Lord the retribution of a great day." Say, "God is the only One I
worship, devoting my
religion absolutely to Him alone."
(Quran, 39:11-14)
- Abdullah Arik
