WHAT SHALL WE DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?

By Ex.Rev.K.Langrin, Seiñduli, West Khasi Hills District.

The above is the most important question for each and everyone of us who believe that there is heaven and hell.

To get the right answer, let us read from the Gospel according to St.Louk.10:25-37.

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall i do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, ” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Then Jesus said, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii(two rupees) and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you’. So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”(if you want to inherit eternal life).

Friends, I just want to mention here one good example for you. And that is an incident in the year 2007. One day, students of Seinduli Upper Primary School were playing football on the ground; and accidentally two boys fell down from the height of the road which is more than 20 feet. Knowing that, all people from Seinduli market rushed to the place where the wounded boys were lying unconsciously. But it is sad to tell you friends that the people who arrived there helped only the boy whom they recognise. For the another boy whom they did not recognise, they refused to help, left him behind without mercy.

Luckily, one teacher from the nearby school i.e. Shri. D.Ali, came to that place, seeing that nobody helped the another boy, he asked the people, “Why don’t you help this one also?” The people answered, “We don’t recognise him, how can we help? We help only the boy whom we recognise.” Nobody helped that boy. But Shri.D.Ali alone helped him like a Samaritan.

My friends, let me ask you a question – Do you want to be like a priest, a Levite or a Samaritan? If you are a priest that means you love only your relatives, you love only for those who love you and your friends from the same religion/church with you. If you are a Levite then you know only how to teach the scripture/Bible in the temple/church. You know only how to preach a very good sermon in the church; and you proud of your religion. But if you are a Samaritan then you have to help anybody who is hungry, thirsty and wounded- spiritually and physically, whether you recognise him/her or not. In your eyes there is no partiallity for all people. And that is the best way/life how to inherit eternal life.

The Ex.Sordar of Seinduli-I, Shri. Edius Thongni when he helped the poor and the widows in the days of Lockdown said, “Helping the poor is more precious than thanks giving and offering in the church.” This teaching of Jesus says that helping others gives true happiness and eternal life. Seneca, the Roman philosopher said, “If a man thinks only of himself and seeks everywhere his own profit, he cannot be happy.” Chinese proverb says, “If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

Friends, remember that Jesus always tells the truth. And what He said in the Scripture is true. If we reject this teaching, we will not inherit eternal life.