Death is not the end of life; it is the beginning of eternity. The soul endures in a disembodied state until we are gloriously re-embodied (resurrected). For about the last 50 years serious research into so called ‘Near Death Experiences’ (including encounters with both heaven and hell) has increased exponentially, and, as a result, there are now millions of recorded cases, many of which have been verified in various ways. In fact, I read one leading secular researcher say that the continuation of human consciousness beyond death is as firmly verified as any scientific fact. We should be careful, however, not to allow people’s experiences to determine our beliefs about the afterlife. Experiences of life after death are invariably said to be beyond description, but people still try to describe them, and their descriptions are heavily filtered by their preconceptions. One interesting common feature of these experiences is that they are described as ‘hyper-real’. In other words, people invariably say that their disembodied consciousness was far more lucid than their embodied experience. It made their bodily experience seem like a dream by comparison. This is a good reminder of how broken and blurred our present mortal existence is. “For now,” said Paul, “we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Mirrors were very hazy in those days, and so is our present perception of reality. The best thing about heaven, however, is that we will see our Lord “face to face”. What makes heaven heavenly is the love of Christ for us.
Pray the words of Psalm 39.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.
