Doctor, Where Am I Going?
Life after death
It is interesting that many people believe in some form of life after death, even when they subscribe to the notion that their “soul” will end up in the eternal “One” soul, and they will lose their identity in the larger entity. Even if they do come back in the hereafter, what is believed in Hinduism, Buddhism and many new age spiritualities which are based on the Hindu worldview, these persons do not know how they spent their [previous life. At best they may get “glimpses” of a past life.
But are these “glimpses” indicative or supportive of the theory of reincarnation? Many of those who have near death experiences insist that this reveals “heaven” to them. But this “heaven” is a personal one, and by this I mean that they remain their individual self, remembering who they are and even seeing themselves in a recognizable form. This surely would give cause to wonder if the “disappearance” of one’s individual soul into a massive eternal but homogenous “soul” may not be accurate. The more likely cause of these experiences is due to the release of glutamates in the oxygen starved brain, which then stimulates the brain cells to fire in areas which give a perception of the out of body experience. The right angular gyrus of the brain, when stimulated in experimental conditions can also simulate an out of body experience. What really convinced me was the incidence of such perceptions in patients who had neurolept anesthesia in the 1970’s, when we used a lot of ketamine anesthesia. The side effect of ketamine is eerily similar to out of body experiences of near death spiritual experience.
As a physician, I have dealt with death more than I care to remember. But that is my job and I have come to the conclusion that there is some form of individuality in the life to come. No patient who had these experiences has told me that they felt they had disappeared into nothing. It is likely that we will remain who we are in the after life, with our own mind, memories and body.
I find the best explanation of heaven given in the religions that talk of a Creator who made man, and this same creator God preparing a place in heaven for us. In this scenario, heaven is the place where God is. Its nature and appearance can only be postulated but not confirmed. Of these monotheistic religions, I found the revelation of God through the Bible to be the most logical way of understanding who we are and how we can go to heaven. And what will heaven be like?
Heaven will be a place of joy
Jude 1:24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.
Heaven will be a place of praise
Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
"Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
I previously made the case that none of us can ever claim to be good enough to be with God in eternity. This can only happen if God wills it. And He did. He sent Jesus to earth, to reach out to us. By His death and resurrection, we have the way to heaven. We only need to believe.
Accept that you are a sinner
(For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23).
Jesus died on the cross to redeem you from sin and reconcile you to God
(Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace)
Accept this gift of redemption as the gift that it truly is
(John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name)
Ask the Holy Spirit to live in you and empower you to live a life of joy, whether in good or difficult times
(2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.)
Amen
+Dr. Joshua Raj
It is interesting that many people believe in some form of life after death, even when they subscribe to the notion that their “soul” will end up in the eternal “One” soul, and they will lose their identity in the larger entity. Even if they do come back in the hereafter, what is believed in Hinduism, Buddhism and many new age spiritualities which are based on the Hindu worldview, these persons do not know how they spent their [previous life. At best they may get “glimpses” of a past life.
But are these “glimpses” indicative or supportive of the theory of reincarnation? Many of those who have near death experiences insist that this reveals “heaven” to them. But this “heaven” is a personal one, and by this I mean that they remain their individual self, remembering who they are and even seeing themselves in a recognizable form. This surely would give cause to wonder if the “disappearance” of one’s individual soul into a massive eternal but homogenous “soul” may not be accurate. The more likely cause of these experiences is due to the release of glutamates in the oxygen starved brain, which then stimulates the brain cells to fire in areas which give a perception of the out of body experience. The right angular gyrus of the brain, when stimulated in experimental conditions can also simulate an out of body experience. What really convinced me was the incidence of such perceptions in patients who had neurolept anesthesia in the 1970’s, when we used a lot of ketamine anesthesia. The side effect of ketamine is eerily similar to out of body experiences of near death spiritual experience.
As a physician, I have dealt with death more than I care to remember. But that is my job and I have come to the conclusion that there is some form of individuality in the life to come. No patient who had these experiences has told me that they felt they had disappeared into nothing. It is likely that we will remain who we are in the after life, with our own mind, memories and body.
I find the best explanation of heaven given in the religions that talk of a Creator who made man, and this same creator God preparing a place in heaven for us. In this scenario, heaven is the place where God is. Its nature and appearance can only be postulated but not confirmed. Of these monotheistic religions, I found the revelation of God through the Bible to be the most logical way of understanding who we are and how we can go to heaven. And what will heaven be like?
Heaven will be a place of joy
Jude 1:24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.
Heaven will be a place of praise
Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
"Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
I previously made the case that none of us can ever claim to be good enough to be with God in eternity. This can only happen if God wills it. And He did. He sent Jesus to earth, to reach out to us. By His death and resurrection, we have the way to heaven. We only need to believe.
Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house"
To those of you who have not taken a step of faith, let me encourage you to do so. Our purpose in life is to know God and to enjoy His presence with us. Anything else will not satisfy.
To really know God as a personal God, and Jesus Christ as personal saviour here are steps you can take. It is between you and God. No on eelse can make the decision for you.
Accept that you are a sinner
(For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23).
Jesus died on the cross to redeem you from sin and reconcile you to God
(Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace)
Accept this gift of redemption as the gift that it truly is
(John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name)
Ask the Holy Spirit to live in you and empower you to live a life of joy, whether in good or difficult times
(2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.)
Amen
+Dr. Joshua Raj
posted by The Rev. Dr Joshua Raj at
4:09 PM
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