Eternal Inheritance

The question of where is your eternal inheritance is the most important question we can ask ourselves. When you stand before Hashem and give account what will you say? The answer that many Rabbis give is threefold: Mitzvah (good deeds), Tsedakah (charity) and Teshuvah (repentance). Other Jews believe that just because someone is Jewish that is enough to merit entry into Hashem’s eternal kingdom. Still other Jews do not believe in an afterlife and see the Moshiach as an age not a person.

Do these teachings agree with the teaching of the Tenach? Let’s look at a few passages and see what Hashem has to say.

First of all we will deal with those who do not believe in an afterlife. The prophet Iyov (Job) speaks of seeing Hashem after his death. The only way this is possible is if there is an after life.

For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see G-d.

Iyov 19.25-26

Now that we have shown from the Tenach that there is an afterlife, we will answer the question “is there a heaven (eternity in Hashem’s kingdom) and sheol (hell)?” Daniel speaks of two possibilities for the afterlife, “everlasting life” (heaven) and “everlasting abhorrence”.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproaches and everlasting abhorrence.

Daniel 12:2

The logical question based on this passage is “What must I do to have eternal life?”

We will now deal with the second view that says that being Jewish is enough to merit eternal life. Dovid ha-Melech (King David) says that it is the upright or righteous that will behold Hashem’s face. The only way to behold Hashem’s face is to be with Hashem in His eternal kingdom. Therefore the criteria for entering into Hashem’s eternal kingdom is righteousness, not someone’s Jewishness or religiousness.

For HaShem is righteous, He loveth righteousness; the upright shall behold His face.

Tehillim (Psalm) 11:7

Now that we have shown that being Jewish (or religiousness) is not enough to have eternal life in Hashem’s kingdom, we will look at the Rabbis’ most popular view of etnernal life. Many Rabbis say that our works determine our eternal destiny. By practicing Mitzvah, Tsedakah and Teshuvah we can earn favor with Hashem.

Is this what Hashem says about our good deeds? Consider what the prophet Yisheyah (Isaiah) says regarding the Jewish people (notice the use of the pronoun “we”):

“And we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”

Yisheyah 64:5

If we are trusting in our “righteousness” or good works to please Hashem, we are in trouble indeed! Should we be reduced to a point of despair? Is there no way to please Hashem? How can we be declared righteous in Hashem’s sight? We must have a righteousness that He sees as righteous.

Can man redeem themselves through their good works? Dovid ha-Melech tells us in Tehillim that the cost of redemption is much too high for man to purchase for himself:

“No man can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to Hashem a ransom for him—For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever…”

Tehillim 49:8-9

These could be verses of despair, but there is hope as verse 16 states, “But Hashem will redeem my soul from the power of the nether world; for He shall receive me.” Hashem will do it! Hashem will redeem us from our sins! The object of our faith is in Hashem and His redemptive plan through the Moshiach.

If our good works can not earn eternal life, what does Hashem require of us? This is seen no more clearly that through Avraham Avinu’s life. What made Avraham Avinu right before Hashem? It was his faith.

“And he (Avraham Avinu) believed in Hashem and He counted it to him for righteousness.”

Bereshis 15:6

What is faith/belief? Yisheyah gives us the answer:

“The mind stayed on Thee Thou keepest in perfect peace; because it trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in Hashem for ever, for Hashem is GOD, an everlasting Rock.”

Yisheyah 26:3-4

Faith is trust, trust in the actions and desires of Hakodesh Baruch Hu (the L-rd). Many devout Jews would declare that they have “faith”, but when pressed to explain “faith” in what, it usually boils down to their own good works, beliefs and actions. According to Yisheyah this would be misplaced faith. Our faith must not be in ourselves.

Who is the Moshiach in whom Avraham Avinu looked forward to for his redemption? The Tenach gives many clues as to who He is. We will leave you with one from Zechariyah (Zechariah) ha novi (the prophjet):

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion ; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem : behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Zechariyah 9.9

To study many more prophecies of the Moshiach click here.

To find out more about how to make sure your inheritance is in Hashem’s eternal kingdom click here.