Reincarnation does not exist. One Bible verse lays the issue to rest: “…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Eternal soul instead of reincarnation
The thought of reincarnation belongs to religions and world views where everything goes round in circles. Nothing ever really changes, the world is not really going anywhere. What was, is, and will ever be. The Bible gives us a totally different view on life and on the world. God created the world, and created man in His image. Man rebelled against God, but God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to this world to suffer and die for our sins. Every man has an eternal soul that is of eternal significance. One day, Jesus Christ will come back to this world to judge the living and the dead.
All the dead in Christ shall rise
So according to the Bible, there is a straight line from beginning (creation) to end (the second coming of Jesus Christ). The Bible clearly teaches that at the end the dead will be raised (see e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:12-24). This is impossible to reconcile with reincarnation. For if the soul of people already has been reincarnated in another human, what would be raised from the dead? But it makes perfect sense when you realize the biblical teaching is that every human being has a unique soul and will have to give account to God.
The teaching about the resurrection of the dead also helps to have a sound view of who man is. We are not just our souls. Our bodies are very much part of who we are. Therefore body and soul will be reunited — though the body will be immensely more glorious than the one we have now (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-49).
Live your life for Jesus Christ
We have just one life. It is this life that will decide where we will spend eternity. It is this life when we have the opportunity to bear fruit for all eternity. The biblical teaching that it “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27) gives enormous importance to our lives. Live it to the fullest, by giving glory to God through the enjoyment of His presence and through sharing the good news of salvation for sinners through Jesus Christ.