Youngest son Grant watched Ghost Hunters late last night and got freaked out (we both did actually) over some actual evidence of spirits and such. I'm not sure why...I've certainly seen and heard my share of weirdness. But this led to a major conversation about what happens after we die. The heaven part is a given, but the concept of spirits existing is also a given for us, because of witness and heck, the Bible tells us so. We've had a lot of loss in our family, and death is no stranger to my kids. Praise God they deal with it as well as could be expected.
We went into the theories: 1) that spirits are not our loved ones who have passed, but actually demons trying to trick us 2) that people who might not believe in God or an afterlife are trapped somewhere in between here and "there."
He started really festering on these notions and concentrating on what will happen to him after death.....I suggested he go into contemplative prayer and ask God. I was kind of surprised that he was questioning these things...I'll relate a story that HE experienced in a minute. He went into prayer and about 10 minutes later he said he had a theory. He theorized that what we experience with spirits is really a crossover of the space-time continuum...that we may be seeing someone in the past or future phasing in and out, and they may be seeing US as spirits as well. (He didn't know that this is an actual theory) For instance, on the Ghost Hunters, they were chasing spirits (caught on camera, and voices on tape) up the spiral stairs of an old lighthouse. The voices said, "help me!" and you could actually hear conversation between people unseen, and their footsteps on the stairs. Grant thought that maybe in the dimension they are in, THEY were being pursued by "spirits" and trying to get away. The running away and "help me" are logical...I know that's what I would be doing if I thought something was chasing ME!!
The universe is an amazing thing. We'll never know the ins and outs. I reminded him, though, of his experience a few years ago. He had decided that there was no good and evil and decided to call demons to our house to prove it. One night, he was having trouble sleeping (wonder why?) and went into the hall toward the bathroom. He saw a very dark entity approaching him. Suddenly, there was a brilliant light that stepped between him and the darkness. He was fully awake at that point! He said the light entity had a face that was neither male, nor female....a kind and loving face that looked down at him, placing itself between him and darkness. He said the light around it was huge and incredible. He remembers this, but sometimes convinces himself that it was a dream...even though we've told him that we've seen such loving creatures around our home. This happened when he was around 7 years old. What could I do but smile?
Last night, I got up around 3 a.m. Gracie got up with me, so I opened the back door to let her out...but I didn't turn on the yard light. There was, I thought, plenty of existing light for her to go out....but she wouldn't! She poked her nose out, but backed up. My 80 lb. dog wouldn't go out without the light! I couldn't blame her...I can't imagine going anywhere, myself, without the Light, either.
11 comments:
Karen, what a good post on so many levels. Your kids are amazing - so is your dog! I hope my son and I have good talks like this. Thanks for a good remidner about the Light.
Yes the spiritual realm is very real, when I was at school my friends often dabbled with occult things, I never got involved, I felt a real no no, I didn't know the Lord then but I'm sure He was doing a work in me and His hand was over my life.
The light in our lives is truly powerful,
Take care!
I'm so relieved you all didn't think I was wacko with this post...this was one that I almost deleted after I posted it! Thank you for your encouraging comments!
Yes...the spiritual realm is very real.....
Oh, I still think you're a wacko, but that's another story. :-)
I think there is much about our universe and spirit world we don't understand. Sometimes we get a glimpse of other spaces and other dimensions, but that limited connection probably creates more confusion than it offers answers.
It is interesting, though. And often frightening.
LOL Bruce!
Yeah....that other realm stuff is scary at times.
I get creeped out at ghosties & seldom watch that kind of stuff & not at night. I don't like those dark vistors, had that one of my daughters played host, but it was sent away! Don't play that way, if ya know what I mean.
just found your blog and this post intrigued me.
after searching the Bible for all sorts of supernatural stuff i found the story of Jesus walking by the boat and the disciples were frightened thinkin it was a ghost.
(ok...so they saw ghosts? i mean they were a bit freaked out...but they thought they knew it was a ghost)
and...when Peter gets supernaturally out of jail and goes to the house where his buds are prayin nonstop for him and the girl runs to the door, opens it, gasps!, slams the door and runs back and tells everyone and they all say "its his angel" and continue praying.
uhm...they slammed the door in the face of an angel and were okay with it? huh?
i think that it is our culture that doesnt understand spiritual realms. if you go to the more "eastern" countries or "third world" countries they see things and know things about the spirit realm that are very real...that is why they can recieve Christ in great numbers when the Truth is revealed to them. We, in the Western Church, are denied the training in it and brush it all off as "dangerous" and "New Age"...
there are angels and demons and there is another dimension...or two..or eleven...look at your Bible and really study it. most of it is supernatural stuff.
MaryAnn....you're so right. I was thinking about this today...and there is so much in the Bible that is so supernatural, and goes so much further than the "church" tells, allows, etc. From Genesis on, there are things that seemed supernatural to the people then...and now are scientifically proven now....so what is out of our realm now that we'll discover later?
haha.
this week one of the messages at our meeting was how the "religious" dont like the "supernatural" stuff.
He said...what? you dont like healings? tear out the 4 gospels and the book of acts.
no prophetic stuff...well there goes most of the old testament.
dont think God talks to people? uh..Abraham, Moses...Joshua...Job (and friends)...
angels? well you already got rid of the gospels and Acts...
after you take out all the heebiejeebie stuff you dont like or cant explain...you got a nice leather folder and a big pile of pages.
God IS supernatural...and wants us to live that way too.
That's great, MaryAnn!
Good post! I tend to lean toward the theory number one (demons pretending to be spirits) because I feel it's most Biblical. The Bible says that it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. I believe the people who see or talk to "spirits", or even what they perceive to be aliens, are actually seeing manifistations of demons who are sent to distract us and get our belief system off the Bible. I have experienced demonic oppression myself and have seen into the spirit realm - on both sides. Angels are just as real as demons.
Several important things to remember (and I really like the things MaryAnn was writing): prayer is powerful; the Word of God is our sword; Jesus gave us "power of attorney" and we have authority over all the power of the enemy in His name. He sent demons out "with a word" which I believe was a simple GO! We can do the same with four words, "Go, in Jesus' name!"
MaryAnn, too many people are walking around with that nice leather folder. I liked that!
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