I am not a fan of John Lennon’s song, “Imagine.” The first sentence asks listeners to imagine there’s no Heaven. He says it’s easy if we try. No, it’s impossible. And why would we want to? I’m confident that world peace is not dependent on the absence of Heaven. History has shown us otherwise. As the world moves away from faith in God, and with it, the notion of an afterlife, wars have increased, and peace has diminished.
On the contrary, I’d rather learn more about God and Heaven. Since I have realized and accepted that reading for me is a slow, tedious slog, I’ve been enjoying audiobooks. As I paint orchids growing in the trees right outside my door, someone is reading to me. I just finished the best-seller Imagine Heaven by John Burke. I have had that book on my shelf for years, unread. It was recommended when Roma took up residence in Heaven just over eight years ago. Now I have completed it, and understand why friends suggested I read it.
John Burke spent 35 years investigating over 1000 near-death experiences. (NDEs). He estimates one out of twenty-five people have or will experience an NDE in their lifetime. He was careful to include in this book only interviews of those who have nothing to gain by sharing their stories, and who would risk their reputations and credibility by lying. People of many professions and all walks of life, from all ages and different cultures, tell consistently familiar stories of what happened to them when they “died.” Some awoke finding themselves at a mortuary.
When they “die”, they are greeted by people they knew in life who are now dead. There was the light, the overwhelming feeling of love, the reluctance to return to life. A man in white approaches them, sometimes identifying himself as Jesus. Many who are from cultures outside of Christianity tell of their later conversion after meeting the man in white. Jesus asks them, “What have you done with the life I gave you?’ And “Have you loved others well?” The overwhelming feeling is repentance and gratitude for another chance. Many don’t want to return to life. Some have a choice while others are told they must go back. Many reported a profound change after their NDEs. Some left highly lucrative jobs to serve, that the Bible calls, “the least of these.”
Not all the NDEs are good. Some reported what can only be described as evil and scary. But on returning to life, they changed drastically, so grateful for a second chance.
I’ve always been confident that Jesus and Heaven are real, and I trust the promises of the Bible. Even in the days following Roma’s journey to Heaven, even in my raw grief, I was comforted that Roma was not “gone,” but had traveled to a place where I would follow him one day. The pain came from the earthly loss and temporary separation of that big, loving, fun personality that exemplified my Roma. There is definitely a void in his absence. It was comforting imagining Roma’s homecoming, greeted by his birth father, my mother, and other loved ones. I wonder what he is up to now.
If anyone needs that comfort about a loved one who has passed or is afraid to die, I would recommend “Imagine Heaven.”
The question Jesus so often asked the people who experienced NDEs was “What have you done with your life?” and “How have you loved the people I put in your life?” I’ve been convicted by those echoing questions. For those of us who will not have a second chance to come back and change our ways, to make things right, I ponder the questions now. What am I supposed to do with this life He has given me? Glorify Him, and make Him known to others. But how? Saint Francis of Assisi wrote this prayer that is a good place to start.
I’ve decided to paint each of my eleven grandchildren a painting. Long after I am in Heaven, they can remember how precious they’ve been to me. I’m not challenged by loving those sweet angels. I must work on those more difficult to love.
My conviction since I have been in Florida for one month today has been to use the gifts God gave me. I’ll complete my book, slog through some tedious book promotion exercises, write reflections on his blog, listen to books that teach me more about the ways of God, work on little paintings, and sculpt tiny faces. Nothing life-changing in the large scheme of life, but I will keep on this path and watch for opportunities to be an instrument of God’s peace. Or maybe, as Mother Teresa said, I can be a pencil, or paintbrush, in the hand of God writing love letters to the world.
I’m using the talents God gave me. Here are some of my paintings in the process. I’m not sure when I will pronounce them finished. Claude Monet had his water lily period. I am experiencing my orchid period. I’m working on a few other paintings that aren’t orchids. I’ll share more as they progress. The sizes shown are 8×10, 5×5, 4×4, and 3×3.
Consider it all JOY 
beautiful Debbie, what medium do you use? I have no doubt that Roma is playing sports with Jesus and is surrounded by many!
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I use oils. I started in oils, then moved to acrylics when I painted on walls because they dry fast. It’s easier to blend with oils.
I have had dreams about Roma. They’ve all been happy and reassuring dreams. I know Roma is safe while the world seems so out of control.
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Beautiful paintings & desires 💞 Those grandkids are so blessed to have you in their life, as I am sure you would say of them too.
Hmmm: I am not so sure about this, Debbie: “As the world moves away from faith in God, and with it, the notion of an afterlife, wars have increased, and peace has diminished.”
I actually see so many coming to Christ, so hungry and thirsty for His righteousness alone. I’d say Satan is furious at the arising of the saints around the world – knowing what’s coming 🙌 All knees bowed, all tongues confessing Christ as LORD!!!
And those wars and that earthly strife are but revealing ever more Jesus:
Isaiah 54:16-17
Behold, I have created the smith
who blows the fire of coals
and produces a weapon for its purpose.
I have also created the ravager to destroy;
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
The ravager is but a servant of the most High King, shaking all that can be shaken to reveal the unshakeable foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise God, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). And praise God heaven is indeed a reality, but not just in our future – but here, right here (Ephesians 2:6), because Jesus: “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
May that reality keep opening our eyes to see this world in the light of eternity – in the light of us knowing Jesus ever more, not looking at the darkness around us, in us and in others, but at that darkness as being but light to our God, who sees everything 💞. May our knees too bow in awe, our tongues too confess Him as Lord of all.
Praise Him!!!
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I hope you’re right, Anna. God wins in the end, but the world seems upside down now. So much division and persecution around the world. So much disregard for God. I’m glad to hear that is not your experience in the Netherlands.
But don’t worry, I still know God has the final word.
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Oh but it is! That’s what is revealing the beauty of Jesus ever more brightly. As my husband loves to quote from Jordan Peterson: the truth always comes out in the end. What if you looked at these things as God’s Word does: His servants. Judgment must begin with us, His church. And I see that happening everywhere I turn: His exposing. His dividing sword to reveal true unity, not fake hypocritical harmony (to please each other)- so opposed to God and His heart.
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I just finished another book, Night, by Elie Wiesel. It’s about the Holocaust. The evil the Jews endured must have made some think there could be no God, or why would he allow such suffering. Or that the world was coming to an end. The men who did those evil things surely must have believed there was no God, and no punishment for their deeds.
The twentieth century was the bloodiest in human history, with two world wars and wars continually through to this day. This century hasn’t improved much, in my opinion and observation. We need a Savior! I’m glad you are witnessing revival, Anna. I am too, in small pockets. The message of the cross has always been offensive to many, and few want to take up the cross and follow Him. All the prophets warned of calamity. Maybe like Jeremiah, I feel more like a weeping prophet. But I’m
glad you balance me out with optimism.
I do know God ultimately wins.
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Oh yes. It’s not that there is no suffering. Reading Corrie’s books though always amazed me because the hope that infused her writing about the most atrocious of circumstances is incredible. I wouldn’t call that optimism. It was hell on earth and yet in the same breath heaven because she and Betsie lived on the bread of heaven. They had inexplicable joy and peace in such pain and suffering. And that turned so many around them to Jesus.
I have always wondered why they had to suffer so much. Why some most suffer so much now. I cannot. But I am trusting Jesus to one day let us see in full, what we can only see in part here. Optimistic I am not. I actually believe things will get much, much worse physically. But I choose not to dwell on that temporal hell on earth (I’d cave in depression). I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus and that too only by God’s daily grace. His Word is my light.
I weep too, Debbie. A lot. And will keep weeping. But in those tears God gives me comfort and joy, as I have seen Him do for you too.
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Galatians 5:8-9
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
Be on your guard!
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Beautiful!
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