the_third_and_fourth_days

The idea of staying close to one’s “first love” (Revelation 2:5) is referring to one’s devotion, not emotion. It is saying, “Let Christ be preeminent once again; do not let service take His place”… If we allow working for the Lord to take the place of walking with Him, there will be consequences… When you think about it, ministry really isn’t what we do for the Lord. It is what He does through us as we walk with Him.

Eddie Rasnake

As for the widely reported experiences of seeing light, we should remember that since God is light, it is understandable that Satan duplicates light of his own. We cannot emphasize too strongly that he wishes to disguise himself as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). And of course, many unsuspecting souls simply assume that this “being” who radiates light is kind and benevolent; in an age of “feel good” religion they can’t imagine that it is anyone else but Christ. Although positive near-death experiences are widely reported, I must point out that other research indicates that many have dark and foreboding experiences. In The Edge of Death, by Philip J. Swihart, and Beyond Death’s Door, by Maurice Rawlings, there are accounts of those who tell terrifying stories of the life beyond. Some have seen a lake of fire or abysmal darkness, along with tormented persons – all of whom are awaiting judgment. These reports, the authors contend, are more accurate because they were gained through interviews almost immediately following near-death and resuscitation. These dark experiences, the writers say, are often lost to the memory after a short period of time.

Erwin Lutzer