The only way to see into the eternal horizon is to have faith in God and to believe that our human existence is not finite but infinite.   Some people on earth have had ‘near death’ supernatural experiences. I have had one too. It was during surgery. I was coming out of the anesthetic; I was in pain when suddenly I realized I couldn’t breathe. As I stopped breathing, my pain vanished and peace filled me. I began praying to let God know that “I am not breathing.” Then a miracle happened. I felt my spirit leave my body like a wind that rushed through me. It was as though my spirit detached from my flesh and I looked back at my body lying on the operating table. I felt like my spirit had reached up to the ceiling when I heard the words ‘Send her back’. To this day I feel like they were the words of an angel guarding my spiritual movement. Then I heard the surgeon say “Give her oxygen” and I was back in my body, breathing again. This occurred over twenty years ago.

I see life on earth as a spiritual stepping-stone where we are prepared for our eternal life with God. Our souls are created immortal, i.e., they will not die. The question to be determined is will our soul rejoice or suffer in the ‘afterlife’.   God’s desire is clear. He wants all His children to be with Him in Paradise forever.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Jesus gives us a clear warning: “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:5

What more could Jesus do for us?

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2

In my early twenties my maternal grandmother died. She was like a mother to me. When I was a little girl she used to take care of me and when I got sick I used to call for my Nonna (Italian word for grandmother). I was at work when I received a phone call to come home because something had happened to Nonna. I cried as I took a taxi home in a rush fearing that she had died and indeed she had. She had suffered a massive heart attack and I didn’t have a chance to say ‘Good Bye’.

I was newly married at the time but my husband could not console me from my grief. As I look back I feel as though I had regressed into childhood. I cried myself to sleep for two consecutive weeks because I had lost my beloved Nonna. Then one night I dreamt of her. In the dream the extended family was united in my parent’s basement having a party when I heard footsteps on the staircase.  I left the party when I heard steps and to my surprise I saw my Nonna on the staircase. She had descended to the mid-point of the staircase. She said “I can’t descend the staircase further, but I just want you to know that I am happy.” When I woke up I stopped grieving. My Nonna who had suffered so much on earth was happy. Then I would be happy too!

I think there is some sacred symbolism in the dream. I believe the staircase that unites the upstairs and the downstairs is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ‘staircase’ or the ‘ladder’ that brings us from earth (downstairs) to Heaven (upstairs). My Nonna was with Jesus and she could no longer descend to earth (downstairs) because she was now part of the eternal realm.

“He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Genesis 28:12

Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” John 1:51

For all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, pray that they may find peace in the eternal light of Paradise and be consoled by the promise of reuniting in Heaven one day.

God didn’t create Heaven just for the ‘good people’. Every human being is a sinner and there is no sin God can’t forgive.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

If you have not done this already, this very day invite Jesus into your life as your Lord and Saviour and ask Him to prepare you for your immortal existence in Heaven.

If you have not yet been Baptized be Baptized in Christ and receive the Holy Spirit and forgiveness for your sins.

If you are already Baptized confess your sins and be reconciled to God.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” 1 Peter 1: 3-4

Join Christians all over the world that are uniting in prayer and remembrance of the Passion of Christ every day at the Time Jesus died for us 3pm (in our local time zones).  Keep praying for peace and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our world.  Did you hear that the President of North Korea has announced his willingness to discuss denuclearization?  Keep praying for Him and for all political leaders, that they may realize the futility of war and embrace the will of God which is love, mercy, justice and reconciliation.  Learn more about The Mercy Movement.