What if there is no eternity?

Most organized religion teaches that this life is merely a precursor for that which is to come after it is over. We are told that it is just the blink of an eye as compared to the eternal life that follows. The actions of our short now, will be used to judge us and determine whether the forever that we get is one of reward, punishment or limbo.

Because we don't want the punishment or limbo we are urged to live the best lives that we can. We are instructed to do good things. We are told to be good people. That way we can get the reward. And to that end many people go beyond what is necessary even to the point of putting themselves through great misery and suffering to "ensure" that they get that reward in the end.

There is, however, no proof that such an eternal reward exists. It is entirely possible that this life is all there is with no reincarnation afterwards and no heaven, hell or limbo. If that is the case, then what reason is there to do good things. If there is no penalty for being evil, why not be evil?

Well, the thing is, there is a penalty. You may not be sentencing yourself to an eternity of burning pain, but there is always a penalty for doing bad things. While you may get something good out of harming another person, you also cannot do a person wrong without doing yourself wrong as well.

You may not see it at the time but this is always true. Other people see how you act and determine how they will or whether or not they will interact with you based on what they see and hear. You may get a little bit ahead by having unfair dealings with some people. But others that could have helped you get even further ahead will see your actions and decide they have no interest in working with you.

The same is true of your romantic interests. If you are mean or unfair in the way in which you deal with people that you are intimate with, others will see it and even if they don't see it directly, the person you are being mean to will share that information with others.

A series of such actions one after the other will gradually diminish the opportunities available to you, preventing you from being able  to obtain and enjoy many of the things that you may have otherwise had. And even if that weren't the case, whether or not you are willing to admit it, you know when you have wronged someone else and when you have, your conscience isn't going to just stand by and ignore it. It will weigh on you and prevent you from enjoying other good things in your life. 

On the other hand, a person never has doubts or second thoughts about whether or not they did the right thing when they do good things. Doing good things, especially selfless good things makes us feel good. Being good to one another creates positive energy within us, within those we do the good things for and in the local universe around us.

If there is no eternal reward for having lived a good life, if this life is the only one we will ever have or at least the only one we can ever truly remember, then it falls on each of us to make this life as close to perfect for ourselves and those around us as we can. Then, if it turns out that there is a reward for the good deeds you did in this life, you get that too.