Afterlife

Because of the reliability of the Scriptures, we can be assured of our eternal home. There have even been a significant number of accounts of people who have had a "sneak preview," of sorts, about what that might look like - a glimpse of glory, if you will. The fact is, there is an afterlife - for everyone - the presence of Jesus in our lives determines where we will spend eternity. Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 5:
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

I came across a story of a Texas woman who experienced this type of "crossing over" while in a coma as the result of a horseback riding accident.  According to the KWTX Television website:

What happens when we die? Some say we cease to exist altogether. Many religions claim we continue existing in a different form, although the specifics are a bit different. One Central Texas native says she knows exactly what happens because she died and came back.

Researchers estimate millions of others have experienced that, too.

Ellen Wier is a Texas woman who had this accident at the age of 12 - while in a coma, she relates:

“I remember being on a raft of sorts, a wooden raft, and there were pink clouds everywhere. And I felt very loved and connected. And I remember seeing Jesus in front of me, I recognized Jesus,” she said, “And on my left there was a figure next to him in long brown robes, bald with bare feet who I didn’t recognize, but I felt safe. I felt this protector energy.”

That was just beginning. Next, she says she was taken into realm with bright white light, and an array of multicolored streams and trees. And then, another level.

“From there I was lifted into the real place of light and that’s what I remember the most,” Ellen explained, “I was taken into this realm of golden light, and it was all love. It was the most beautiful, connected, warm feeling you could have.”

She was given the option of staying or leaving, she says and her choice was influenced by this: “I was shown the trajectory of my father’s life, and saw he wouldn’t actualize his life on this planet if I chose to stay..."  She now works as a music therapist and a psychologist.  She talked about what she sees as her life's mission:

Ellen said, “I knew it was such a gift to live. I wanted to give back. I said I want to come back and heal people with music. And I made a second vow. I will give gratitude every day for every experience, because I know it’s a gift because everything is a lesson. Everything is something to expand our soul.”

And as she returned to her body, she saw, and felt, and heard music, a verification perhaps of what she was meant to do.

“And I’m so grateful to be here, to get to use music because now I’m a music therapist and a psychologist, and I do exactly what I came back here to do,” Ellen said.

She says, "...to have lived through and eventually be able to talk about it was a gift.”

The article also include the comments, Jan Holden, a counseling professor and expert in NDE's, or "near-death experiences."

Now, I certainly do not want to challenge the validity of anyone's story.  But, the Bible does instruct us in 1st John 4 to "test the spirits."  I think a glance at Ellen Wier's social media will indicate teachings and practices are not consistent with Scripture.  I think there are two concepts I'd like to relate here:

The first is this: when Jesus reveals Himself to us, how do we respond?  This could even be a revelation, such as what Don Piper, who has been a guest on The Meeting House multiple times, whose story is told in the book and movie, 90 Minutes in Heaven.  Or Colton Burpo, whose story was featured in the book and movie, Heaven is for Real.  A recent CBN article featured comments from Burpo, reflecting on his experience 20 years ago:

"He has called me to be a godly man, a godly husband, now a godly dad, and, when it comes to the supernatural — or what is waiting for us, I'm not afraid to meet Jesus again one day," he said. "I'm looking forward to that day."

For now, Burpo, who works as a worship pastor and electrician, believes God now has him on a more essential mission.

"My mindset right now is, instead of being so caught up in what's waiting for me, I'm going to focus on the here and now," he said. "I'm going to live my life in a way that honors Christ. If I can, while I'm down here, I'm going to try and get as many people to come with me to heaven. So, I've been able to view it more as a mission instead of, 'I wish I was in heaven again.'"

While many have had some sort of near-death experience, we don't have to taste the afterlife through an NDE in order to have an encounter with Jesus - He has revealed Himself through Scripture, and He will continue to show us more about Himself as we spend time in the Word and prayer.  When we meet Jesus, He will instruct us on how to be a true follower or disciple.  When Jesus reveals Himself to us, we can consider the choice we will make - the choice to obey.

Another concept we can consider is the reality of the afterlife.  The Bible teaches us that there is a place where we go when we leave this world.  The real "us..." our spirits.  We are promised a glorified body in the afterlife.  And, we are promised that we will live with Him forever. This is a promise that is only for those who have accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior of their lives.  The reality of heaven is reserved for those who experience the reality of salvation.  But, we can experience that assurance of where we will spend eternity.  

The previously-mentioned TV station article states that Holden... 

...says about 80 to 90 percent of people describe what some might equate to a “heaven” experience. But what about the concept of hell? Holden has seen those accounts too, roughly 10 percent.

“They describe distressing experiences, terror, horror, profound and eternal isolation,” she said.

But Holden explained that even in those cases, people experience positive after effects like a new purpose and love for life. And a renewed outlook is something shared across the board.

“Near death experiencers, many of them, come back saying what they learned in their experience, was the purpose of human life, and that is to advance in our capacity to love. We’re here to experience and express our ability to love at every level,” Holden explained.

There are those who have been "sent back," if you will, and have experienced perhaps a change in attitude or purpose. Those who have been given a glimpse have received a gift.  The question becomes: what will they do with it?  Our questions are: "how do we respond when Jesus reveals Himself?" And, "where will we spend eternity?"