What happens when we die? It’s an age-old question that people are still asking today. As Christians, we know what Scripture reveals about death and eternity, but we don’t know every detail of what the experience is like. That’s why stories of near-death experiences (NDEs) have captivated so many people. They seem to offer a glimpse into what lies beyond this life. What makes these experiences so intriguing is that many people report leaving their physical bodies while remaining fully conscious. Could this be evidence that human beings are more than just flesh and bone? Could near-death experiences point to the existence of a soul, suggesting that there is more to us than our physical bodies?
NDEs are profound experiences reported by people who come close to death or are temporarily declared clinically dead before being revived, often involving vivid visions or out-of-body events. Many report going to Heaven, visiting a spiritual realm, or even encountering Christ. Many say they remember seeing their bodies, witnessing the doctors perform CPR, watching their family and friends, and feeling overwhelming peace. Gabe Poirot on the Maybe God podcast states that his NDE was like taking off a jacket when you get home from work; you can remove it, see it, but you’re not the jacket. While details vary, one recurring theme stands out: many people report existing consciously apart from their physical bodies.
When we look at scripture, it is consistently taught that our physical bodies are not the whole of who we are. In Genesis 2:7, God formed Adam’s body, then he breathed the breath of life into him. Matthew 10: 28 reads, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” showing that humans are both body and soul. Again, in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 we see Paul explain the different parts that make up a human life. The Word of God shows that we are body and soul, and NDEs seem to confirm this idea, showing that there is more to life than many people admit or recognize. If humans truly consist of both body and soul, we would expect consciousness to be capable of existing apart from the body. While NDEs don’t prove this beyond doubt, they are certainly consistent with that biblical expectation.
Some will argue that while these experiences seem real, they are simply tricks of the mind occurring because of scientific explanations such as oxygen deprivation, hallucinations, or other natural causes. While this might explain some cases, it doesn’t explain why many have accurate reports of their own deaths, or near-deaths, and the events that occurred after. It can’t provide a reason for why completely different people have shared experiences and similar reports. We should be cautious; not every story is true, but there is simply too much evidence to deny them altogether. If near-death experiences are even a glimpse of a greater reality, they echo what Scripture has proclaimed all along: we were created by God for more than this life.
Written by Kayleigh Rosado
Suggested resource: Gabe Poirot on Maybe God Podcast https://youtu.be/51OQ3JcLIxU?si=N3z5mQtxPU5BxThD