[086] World Scripture - Preparation for Eternity - 3. As We Live on Earth

[대태양/김현수]

World Scripture Ⅱ

Part One - God and Creation

Chapter 5. Life after Death and the Spirit World

3) Preparation for Eternity

3. As We Live on Earth, So Shall We Live in Heaven

World Scripture

Tzu-lu asked how one should serve ghosts and spirits. The Master said, “Till you have learnt to serve men, how can you serve ghosts?” Tzu-lu then ventured upon a question about the dead. The Master said, “Till you know about the living, how are you to know about the dead?” Analects 11.11 (Confucianism)

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18.18

Now man is made of determination (kratu); according to what his determination is in this world so will he be when he has departed this life. Shankara, Vedanta Sutra 1.2.1 (Hinduism)

Both life and death of such as are firm in their penance and rules are good. When alive they earn merit and when dead they attain beatitude. Both life and death of such as indulge in sins are bad. When alive they add to malice and when dead they are hurled into darkness. Dharmadasaganin, Upadesamala 443-44 (Jainism)

Here he grieves, hereafter he grieves. In both states the evil-doer grieves. He grieves, he is afflicted, perceiving the impurity of his own deeds. Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices. In both states the well-doer rejoices. He rejoices, exceedingly rejoices, perceiving the purity of his own deeds. Here he suffers, hereafter he suffers. In both states the evil-doer suffers. “Evil have I done”— thinking thus, he suffers. Having gone to a woeful state, he suffers even more. Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy. In both states the well-doer is happy. “Good have I done”—thinking thus, he is happy. Upon going to a blissful state, he rejoices even more. Dhammapada 15-18 (Buddhism)

As for that abode of the Hereafter, We assign it to those who seek not oppression in the earth, nor corruption. The sequel is for those who ward off evil. Whoever brings a good deed, he will have better than the same; while as for him who brings an ill deed, those who do ill deeds will be requited only what they did. Qur’an 28.83-84

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

The value of your life is not determined after living it to the end. It is determined by the life that you live each day. (197:186, January 14, 1990)

A person cannot suddenly change his way of life in the other world. There is a saying that the habit of a three-year old continues until he turns eighty. Inborn personality is hard to change. Hence, spirit people cannot live very differently from the way they lived on earth. After all, the inhabitants of the spirit world are the souls of people who formerly lived on earth. From this perspective, the spirit world is not so different from the physical world. (141:268, March 2, 1986)

All the sensibilities of a spirit are cultivated through the reciprocal relationship with the physical self during earthly life. Therefore, only when a person reaches perfection and is totally immersed in the love of God while on earth can he fully delight in the love of God as a spirit after his death. All the qualities of the spirit self are developed while it abides in the physical self: Sinful conduct during earthly life aggravates evil and ugliness in the spirit of a fallen person, while the redemption of sins granted during earthly life opens the way for his spirit to become good. This was the reason Jesus had to come to the earth in the flesh to save sinful humanity.

We must lead a good life while we are on the earth. Jesus gave the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter, who remained on the earth, and said, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,” because the primary objective of the providence of restoration must be carried out on the earth. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Creation 6.3.2)

Is it easy or difficult to change your habits? Yet you have lived with selfish habits, according to the satanic world’s idea of right and wrong. These habits have congealed in you. They are stronger than the craving we Koreans have for kimchee.

Ever since the day Satan began his reign over humanity, people have been establishing selfcentered habits and traditions. They are like a rotten root. How can we pull it out? You say you understand the Principle and know what to do. Yet try as you may to dig a hole and pull out that root, you cannot. It is taller than you are. It is so long that even if you were to stand at the top of a tree you cannot pull it out. Can you, nevertheless, loudly proclaim that you have pulled it out? This is a serious matter. Do you have confidence to go to heaven? To go to heaven, you must have God-centered habits and tradition. (213:20, January 13, 1991)

How much you have lived for the Will of God throughout your life will determine your position in the spirit world. Therefore, you yourself know very well whether or not you can enter the heavenly realms. For what purpose did you eat and sleep, like and dislike, come and go? This will determine whether you can enter heaven. (Way of God’s Will 1.8)

The Kingdom of God, the hope of humanity, is composed according to the principle of living for the sake of others. Like it or not, you are destined to go to the spirit world. Everyone takes that journey according to his or her way of life. What is the fundamental issue in your life? It is whether you are living more for the sake of others or for yourself. If you lived more for the sake of others, you will go to the Kingdom of God. If the opposite is true, you will go to hell. You may be unable to believe this fundamental formula now, but once you die, you will understand. (74:51, November 27, 1974)