PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED SOUL MAY HAVE NO HEED

According to almost all religious faith, life after death is determined by our doings on earth. That is an individual matter. Different faiths have painted different types of heaven. Though some denote the comfort available there, it may be impossible to speak about the comfort of heaven by man, as no man on earth have narrated about it after experiencing life there. The most reliable explanation about the heaven is given by Jesus Christ. According to John 14:20, "When that day comes, you will learn for yourselves that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you." This verse clearly shows that man will be finally be in confluence with God. God will not receive anything impure. Hence the impure man will get cleansed by Jesus first and then join God. And that is the kingdom of God or heaven.

The impurities of man can be cleansed only when he has physical body. According to Christian faith Jesus alone can absorb our impurities. God Himself could not draw the negatives of man into Him. Hence God took a human body in the form of Jesus Christ. In short, either to commit a sin or to have forgiveness of a sin man should have physical body. Therefore, after death no sin shall be forgiven. When the young man sought the permission of Jesus to go and bury the body of his father, Jesus told all of them to follow Him and asked to let the dead go and bury their dead. This means that those who are dead may be left alone, and the living ones  may follow Him and save themselves.

When we commit sin we are bound to undergo punishment. The only way to avoid punishment is to get remission of sins through Jesus Christ. The very moment we believe that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for the remission of 'my sins', we are relieved from punishment, whatever it may be. We must have this remission during our lifetime. If we die with sins we will not be admitted into heaven (what constitute the form of heavenly Father and Jesus Christ). After death, when the soul is not admitted into heaven, we are bound to take a body again and come back to life until we undergo the sentenced punishments. Exodus 34:7 substantiates this. "He is true to his promise of mercy a thousand times, over, shame or sin or guilt is none but he forgives it; yet, before him, none can claim innocence in his own right, and when he punishes, the son must make amends for the father's guilt, to the third and fourth generation."  This verse confirm that the son, grandson and upto the fourth generation have to suffer for the sins of the father.

Nowhere in the Holy Scriptures it can be found the prayer made by us will help to have remission of sins of our departed near and dear. However, if we can draw the sins of our departed ones we are likely to be fall dead. As such, by prayers made or by any customery practice done no remission shall be granted for a departed soul.

K V George