Jesus said to his apostles, “I’ve gone to prepare a place for you.” I think he meant this for all of us. But what is this wonderful place? Is it sitting on a cloud playing a harp?
It’s a mystery, and we love mysteries. While we ponder what’s “beyond the veil,” is true spiritual growth and action driven by love that we see in our world a taste of the afterlife? Is this our first clue?
Do we see clues in things said by Jesus and the apostles? What about mystics and even modern Near-Death Experiences (NDEs).
Looking at these fragments are like looking at an elephant’s leg or a platypus bill and trying to describe the entire animal. We’re bound to get it wrong.
I have a major clue. My wife said to me, “I can make your life Heaven or Hell. Your choice.” Well, Heaven is wonderful.
First, I should mention a couple of things. It’s okay to want to know about Heaven, but it’s more important what we do in the here and now. How we treat others is the key to our destiny. And we need to keep in mind that knowledge isn’t the primary key to our destiny. Knowledge can be helpful in helping us choose a direction, but it’s much less important than what we do for others to show our love for them. Our life builds wisdom experientially, not by acquiring knowledge.
Now to get into the details of Heaven, Jesus tells us that there is no marrying in Heaven. We will be known to others as we are known. There’s no social status. It’s irrelevant how much money we made here and how much power and fame we have. It’s gone at the moment of death and you’re just the same as everyone. Pain and troubles are forever gone.
View the homily on YouTube
The Apostle Paul tells us that we are transformed in an instant and have a body that is incorruptible, just like Jesus.
Christian mystics like Edgar Cayce tell us that there is education and responsibility for souls in Heaven that want it. He believed that Heaven isn’t somewhere we go, but a state we attain. Attaining occurs through spiritual growth. He believed that aligning your conscience, ideals, hopes, and desires with one’s true purpose is essential for spiritual growth. We continue to exist after death and can help and communicate with those who are here.
He offered this profound thought that is consistent with Christian teachings: “You get to heaven on the arms of people you have helped. In Christianity, we believe that our “fruits,” which are our good deeds, are the proof we follow Jesus.
If there’s hope for me, there will be a level in Heaven for those with training wheels.
Near Death Experiences, or N D Es, in which a person has no heart or brain activity for several minutes to hours, give us beautiful visions of Heaven. Each of us has a place prepared for them. They tell us of indescribable beauty, beautiful music, meeting loved ones and spiritual leaders like Jesus. In studies of thousands of N D Es, they have consistent themes of profound love, peace, no judgment in a life review, encountering divine presence, and a renewed purpose upon return. These experiences, while personal, consistently point to unconditional love and acceptance.
We should keep spiritual discernment in mind about NDEs. There are frauds that push an agenda. Love, acceptance, and inclusion are key hallmarks. They are very personalized, often in the person’s own religious perspective, and specific about individual life purposes, so they can’t be generalized to all people. Everyone’s life is different. And also, these aren’t actual death experiences which may be slightly different. But they offer a comforting glimpse.
The afterlife will most likely be a wonderful place for nearly all of us, although some may have to work through a time of self-hate. How we treat others is key.
So let’s think for a moment about what we do for others. It may seem like huge tasks are too much for us or that our efforts won’t make any difference.
In reality, it’s the little things that count the most. Look for opportunities to give one kind word, one kind action, one hug to someone hurting, one smile of acceptance or one word of encouragement. Just one. It will make their day and yours. Over a lifetime you can build a huge stockpile of kind actions, meaning love, for others.
If you like this short homily, please click the Subscribe button to hear more. And visit my author Website Dorian Scott Cole dot com.
“Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.: – Dorian Scott Cole
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In