THE HOPE OF HEAVEN

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 210

Gonna admit something—I’ve never been an avid reader. In fact, I’m not one of those people (like my dad) who can get lost in a good book for hours. I’ve just never been wired that way. But on the rare occasion, a subject, or a book, will captivate me so much that I just can’t seem to put it down.

That type of thing has only happened to me a handful of times. But, whoa, when it does, I seem to get completely lost in the read. A couple of those times happened during my high school years, and they’ve continued to fuel my fascination with those subjects.

The first was a book called “Communion” written by Whitley Strieber. (The book was adapted for film in 1989, a movie by the same name starring Christopher Walken. The movie was kind of a flop, though. It certainly didn’t do the book justice, IMHO). Anyway, Strieber’s book was a retelling of his experiences losing time from what he described as alien abductions. The book was horrifying; downright paranormal is what it was.

My second marathon read was recommended sometime later by my dad, after my cousin Ricky committed suicide. I don’t know who recommended the book to my dad, but I guess that’s beside the point. The book was titled “Life After Life,” written by a physician named Raymond Moody. And OH MY GOODNESS, what a read.

While Moody’s book tip-toed into the paranormal too, his accounts weren’t frightening, but enlightening. His was a series of interviews he conducted with patients who had passed away, then were later resuscitated—either directly associated with or adjacent to his care. The reports he recorded direct the reader toward heaven, peace, love, and light; whereas Streiber’s book is dark, almost demonic, and almost makes ya wanna hit your knees.

Well… this afternoon as I began to veg on the couch—flanked by my boxer-bunch boys for an afternoon of using dad as a pillow—a series of NDE videos began to infiltrate my YouTube feed. One after the other I clicked and watched.

While the channel’s creator isn’t a trained or licensed physician, he’s a highly educated and trained engineer, and like Moody, in his fascination and desire to know the unknown, he conducted over 1,000 interviews with people (from every walk of life, nationality, creed, and ability) about their experiences. In many of them, the interviewee experienced an overwhelming sense of peace and love—so much so they almost all say they didn’t want to return to earth, their bodies, and oftentimes the pains of living.

Let’s get a bit more trippy!

Like Moody, St. Paul documented a story of a Christian brother who may have had a near-death experience also. Paul wrote:

“I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows—was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak.” — 2 Corinthians 12:2–4, CSB.

Now, I can’t speak for you, but I find these two subjects fascinating; I think because they both involve the unseen realm, and… what awaits humanity on the flip side of life as we know it—whether good or bad. I guess, really, what fascinates me the most—and captivates my attention most days—is the hope of heaven. The Apostle Peter wrote about that, saying:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” — 1 Peter 1:3–4, CSB.

More than most things, I’m thankful God has given me this hope too. (You’re probably thinking, “Well thank goodness, your job is to help us find and keep that hope too.”) Yah… true that. Still, I thank God for our mutual hope in heaven, and continuing to fuel my fascination with what awaits humanity on the flip side of this life.

Anywho… what are you thankful for on this last Sunday in June?