Near-Death Experiences
I am intrigued by stories of people who have experienced a near-death experience, resulting from a heart attack, stroke, near drowning, etc., and how that experience changes their lives after the event. It is common for some of these individuals to report memories of an out-of-body experience, seeing a tunnel of light or just light, being enveloped in a sense of warmth and comfort, meeting with deceased relatives, and a rapid life review. I am open to believing that there is a spiritual component to these experiences, but I do not know. But what fascinates me the most is how often this near-death experience changes their lives: They no longer fear death, and going forward, they are able to live less anxious, more joyful, and more meaningful lives.
Isn’t that what we all want? (That is, without suffering the near-death experience.)
A family friend and pastor, Bruce Green, last month sent me a book he recently authored entitled, This is the Day: Living Within a Day for Jesus. It is a “how to” book on how to live within each day for Jesus and as a result “experience time more powerfully, appreciate it more fully, and remember it with bliss.” Bruce introduces his short book by posing the question: “Have you wondered what life was like for Lazarus the morning after he was raised from the dead?” While the Bible does not tell us, I suspect that Lazarus, like many of those who go through a near-death experience, found new purpose and meaning, felt less anxiety, and discovered that the fear of death no longer had any control over him. Wouldn’t you want to feel that same feeling that Lazarus had when he walked out of the tomb to see his loved ones after being dead for four days? We have more in common with Lazarus than you think.
As believers who belong to Jesus Christ, we may not have suffered a “near-death experience,” but we have experienced something even more profound: We have been raised from the dead—dead in our sins—and have been “made alive” and raised up with Christ by the grace of God through faith (Eph. 2:1-10). Because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, just like those who have suffered a near-death experience, our lives will not, and cannot, ever be the same. The fear of death no longer has a hold on us, and our lives have new purpose, meaning, and joy through Him. Soli Deo gloria.
Carter