I used to be fascinated by people who claimed to have near death experiences—not for the reason most people are—but because most of them seem so…well…what’s the word I’m looking for?
Absurd.
Now, hear me out. They seem this way to me because someone who has “died on the operating table” as they say, would never be the same.
Never!
Period. Don’t even try to argue with me on this one because you’d be wrong. The truth is, if someone makes a near death (or actual death) claim and is now living the same shallow, me first, meaningless life they were before said experience—they’re lying.
Seeing the truth of eternity changes you. Period.
- the reality of heaven’s beauty
- the reality of Hell
- The reality of a final judgment
- The reality of “forever”
If you didn’t experience any of this, you didn’t die, you were just taking an incredibly deep nap and thought of that as a ‘near death’ experience.
Near death is different. They come in all shape and sizes, but the following make up the three categories most often reported.
- the encounter with the ‘great light’
- the trip to heaven
- the meeting with the grim reaper
- the experience of the apostle Paul in the New Testament
Today there are several books out claiming the second experience (the trip to heaven). One I actually liked and think may have some validity is, “Heaven is for Real.”—the story of a 4 year old boy who clinically died on the operating table but instead came back to tell vivid and incredible stories about heaven and Jesus that would be impossible had he not actually been there. I believe these experiences can be more powerful for children because their faith is often bigger and more pure (child-like) than an adult. Also, they are not likely to get all puffed up about it. Even the apostle Paul had to be given a spiritual ‘thorn in his side’ to keep him humble about what he’s actually seen during his trip to heaven.
So, assuming a fraction of these experiences are actually real, the question becomes, ‘why’? Why does God allow some to have this incredible experiences and other not?
I believe it is about something much bigger. It is about bringing us individuals to the point where we realize God is all we need. It is about doing or allowing whatever it takes to make God the enter of our universe.
And by far the most common near death experience shared is that of seeing a ‘great light.’ I don’t really buy many of these either. Here’s why… The idea of the bright light beckoning people–all kinds of people (good, bad, debauched, conniving, church going, atheist, young, old, religious, non religious, etc.) seems to imply that if we are simply, ‘good people’ or ‘willing to change’ people–that regardless of the route we choose–we’ll all make it to the Great Bright Light at the end of the heavenly tunnel. God’s Word makes it crystal clear that this is not the case. So, that bright light some claim to have seen may not have been the Father of Lights.’ It may actually be the one sometimes appears as an angel of light. And if that’s the case, there certainly will not be any transformation for the second half of one’s earthy life–the great light will end up being a great big disaster. Anything that moves us further from the truth is you know.
For some, nothing will work. They will live their whole lives for themselves and die in their sins. For others it might be pain and trials. For some it might just be the goodness of God. But for a select few—those who will never be the same—it might take a ‘near death’ experience.
How bout you? What’s it gonna take?