The older a person gets the more aware they become of what happens after death.  It used to be the only thing we knew was what the Bible taught us.  In 1975 Dr. Raymond Moody wrote “Life after Life.”  He recorded experiences from 150 people he had interviewed who were clinically dead and then recovered.  The book gave me a new outlook on what death was like.

He describes what generally occurred.  Their spirit would hover over their body and they could see and hear those surrounding their person.  Some, out-of-body and in spirit, might leave the room or even travel to specific places and hear people talking and repeat what they had heard after reviving.  This refutes the skeptics who believe it is a phenomenon that takes place in the brain and believe they were never really dead.

My aunt, when she passed on, came to the bed of her granddaughter.  She told her she was going to be with the Lord.  She was told to be a good girl and then she was gone.  Her granddaughter told what happened before anyone knew she had died.

Dr. Moody explains that many who died went through a dark tunnel and came into a very brilliant light at the end.  Others just felt they were rising above the clouds and viewed earth as an astronaut would.  Christians who saw the bright light believed it was Christ Who had said: “I am the light of the world.”  John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

Some spoke of family and friends who had previously died were there to meet them.  Others believe that they met with a religious figure such as Christ who showed them a review of everything they had done to other people.  They were asked: what have you done with your life that you can show me?  It was not asked in a condemning way.  They were then asked if they wished to stay or to return.  Of course those who returned requested to do so.

Those who have returned come back with a different perspective on life.  While gone they witnessed a love that was indescribable. They no longer fear death and they have learned to love like never before.  There is no question in their minds if there is life after death.

If we are going to be asked what we have done with our life, what do you want to relate?  Would you like to say you were very self-centered and there were a lot of people you hated?  Would you want to say you had accepted Christ as your Savior but you didn’t really repent? Suppose you lived as the world lives and not a holy life as the Bible teaches?   Or maybe you planned to but you died before you got around to it.  How easy is it to trade 80 some years for eternity?  Keep in mind, this is God’s laboratory and we are here to be tested and to prepare for our future.  Will we pass the test or fail?

Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”

I Thessalonians 4:1 – 8 – “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.  For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”