Near Death Experiences: What Can We Learn About How to Live Today?

Lessons from Imagine Heaven by John Burke

One of my sons recently told me about the interview of John Burke by Shawn Ryan. I have heard some things about near death experiences and wanted to hear more. It turns out that John Burke has been a pastor for over 20 years and was bringing a real Christian perspective to this topic. I’ve heard more of the “heaven is real and everyone goes there” kind of story, of which I was suspicious. But this was different. John Burke brought an engineer’s mind and skeptic’s questions to bear as he investigated people’s stories, over the last 35 years. So, he has been at this for a while. I then went on to read John Burke’s book Imagine Heaven because I wanted to dive into this more than just a 4-hour podcast. (Pretty long conversation.) I also watched the documentary movie After Death which featured a lot of the people that John Burke talked about.

Here are some lessons I gathered from absorbing this material, these stories, and the perspective of those who have had a glimpse of heaven. And I think you might like to check this out further for yourself.

Hope

Hope is the biggest takeaway from what I absorbed from these near death experience accounts. This world is not all there is. The pain and suffering in this world have a purpose. God is very real. The Bible is very true. Heaven is real. Hell is real, too. God really pursues people even on the way to hell, not willing that anyone should perish in hell. There is hope, not only in this life, but also much more in the life to come. Near death experiences can strengthen your faith. They are by far not the only evidence for the existence of God and Heaven and an afterlife, but they do reinforce what is taught in the Bible.

Death is a Gateway

Death is a gateway to a reality that is far more real than what we currently experience on earth. Senses are way sharper. Everything is more vivid. The “other side” is more real than this side. This side is only a test. Now is only a short exposure to good and evil and a chance for us to choose to submit to God or go our own way. What really matters is the “other side” for all of eternity.

This painting, The Prince of Peace is by Akiane Kramarik who saw visions of Jesus when she was 4 years old.

Jesus

The descriptions of Jesus are consistent with Revelations 1, yet more intense. Many see a being of light with the light coming right out of him, full of love of the most sincere, intimate and profound type. Not judgment, but love. People sensed that Jesus could see completely into them and knew everything about them. But it didn’t freak them out because they sensed his love at the same time. Simply amazing. A relationship with God is exactly what we were created for and what most satisfies us. Hard to believe, but if the reports are true, indeed this will be the best part of heaven.

God is Not Willing that Any Should Perish

I already mentioned this, but it bears repeating. Jesus pursues people and is not willing that any should perish. The rescue stories of those who came back after being rescued from hell speak to God’s great desire to take anyone that will seek his help. Only those who will refuse to submit to him end up in hell. We aren’t guaranteed a chance on the way to hell, but at least a few got a chance. Maybe more people get a chance than we know? I hope so.

Hell is Real

Hell is real, but it was made for the devil and the fallen angels. If we reject God and refuse to submit to him, that is where we end up. God will not force anyone to follow him. Love must be freely given in a free relationship. If it is forced, it is not love. Love must be freely given, and it appears that God is serious about letting us have our choice and not forcing us to do his will.

Family Matters to God

Family truly is forever. Family matters to God. We will somehow be more connected to those we knew on earth. Of course, we don’t have physical bodies (in the intermediate stage before the final resurrection) so there is not marriage like on earth. Since families are so important it seems that our main task on earth is to love our families. That is what seemed to be emphasized in many people’s life reviews that they got.

You Will Meet Family You Never Got to Meet

People last forever. And family is there, even ones you didn’t meet on earth. I have a sister who died as a stillborn. I will meet her in heaven. I have a son or daughter (#15) that died very early in pregnancy (We named her/him Erin or Aaron). I will meet him or her in heaven as well. (I do love you and I am looking forward to meeting you.)

Maybe you, too, have loved ones cut off too soon in this life. You can meet them on the other side, too. This is the hope that the Apostle Paul writes about in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. We do not grieve over death as those who do not have hope of seeing our loved ones again.

Life Review: “What Did You Do with the Life that I Gave You?”

Many, but not all, people got a life review while they were on the other side of death. We, too, can learn from Jesus’ question, “What did you do with the life that I gave you?” That is what Jesus asked them. That is the point he wanted them to reflect on as he showed their life back to them.

Well, we don’t have to wait until the other side to ask and reflect on that question. We can learn empathy now and see how our decisions affect those around us right now.

Time is Different Over There

Time is different on the “other side.” Understanding time and God’s view of how things happen in time is impossible from within time. C.S. Lewis explored this a bit in his Chronicles of Narnia. The kids who went to Narnia had wild experiences, sometimes for months or years, but came back just seconds later in our world’s time. It is something like that.

There are more dimensions than just time, and 3 dimensions of space on the “other side.” How God can predestine us and yet not violate our free will is a bit of a mystery that we can’t logically explain right now. Maybe it is more complicated than we can sense in our limited set of dimensions.

Heaven is Incredible, Beyond What Can Be Described

Heaven and the new creation will be fantastic. The analogy that John Burke uses is of a person living in a two-dimensional world, in black and white on a piece of paper. Then they get to experience a full color three-dimensional world. Then they get put back into their two-dimensional world and must try to explain their experiences to people in two-dimensional terms. This is very hard to do. But that is kind of what people struggle with who have seen a piece of heaven.

There seems to be thought travel. By thinking of a destination you can just arrive there. Communication seems to be via thoughts as well. Exploration of God’s ingenuity will be endless. He (God) is way more inventive and creative and humorous and loving and enjoyable than we can imagine. John Burke goes into detailed descriptions of the new Jerusalem in the book.

Strive for Heavenly Treasure

It doesn’t matter whether you lived a long life or a short life. There are rewards in heaven, like what the Apostle Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, but these weren’t revealed too much to newcomers. Perhaps they will be at the last judgment and not before then. Your faith and trust in Christ is what really matters in the end and on the other side. Jesus talked about laying up treasure in heaven, not on earth. So, our accomplishments for temporal gains don’t carry over into heaven. Rich or poor, long or short pilgrimage, healthy or sick, privileged or deprived, accomplished or novice, famous or unknown, young or old, none of that matters on the other side. “Did you love me?” is what Jesus wants to know. Did you love those around you? What did you do with the life that I gave you?

Don’t Treat Earth Like It is Your Final Destination

I realize more and more that I don’t have to fit everything and try to travel to see all the great sites of the world in this life. On the “other side” travel will be so much easier, the sights so much grander, and it won’t be spoiled by sin and the corruption of nature that Paul speaks of in Romans 8. I can focus on completing my mission that God has given to me in this life. This life isn’t all there is. So, I don’t have to “do it all” in this lifetime. I don’t need to complete my “bucket list.” That is the wrong goal in life.

We need to love those around us and take dominion of creation so that God’s kingdom comes and his will is done here on earth as it is in heaven. We don’t have to have regrets about not being able to travel, experience different cultures, learn about history and the “great civilizations” and amass great wealth or whatever else you could pursue in this life. We don’t have to jam great vacations into our busy schedules. We need to love those around us. That is the test in this life. Did we love as Jesus loved and as he loves even now?

Live In View of Eternity (LIVE)

To live in view of eternity is really living. We would be more earthly good if we take some time to reflect on heaven and the other side. People who have had a NDE give us a glimpse of reality on the “other side.” John Burke shows us that what they see aligns with what Scripture tells us. They just give a few more details and put it into modern language so it is easier to understand. Take advantage of the view and perspective they bring. Reflect on what is really real. Build true wealth that will last forever.