I never before realized that the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus’ parables about money. Why do I say this? Immediately after the parable, Luke 16 begins with this:
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property …”
Squandering property … sound familiar? Just a few verses earlier:
“But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
The older son is focused on money and possessions. The father doesn’t seem to regard the lost family wealth as important at all.
“…we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Jesus crystalizes the difference between these two outlooks with a single piercing phrase later in Luke 16:
“What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
When I was making these discoveries in Luke’s gospel, I was also reading John Burke’s book Imagine Heaven, which catalogues and analyzes thousands of near-death experiences that have been studied by scientists and confirmed as legitimate in various ways. (For example, a blind person who was able to describe in detail the operating room that his body was laying in.)
A consistent theme from these “NDEs” (near-death experiences) stood out to me, in light of my readings in Luke. During the “life review” portion common to most NDEs, as God was presenting the person’s life to them so they could review the decisions that they had made, their actions that accumulated wealth, prestige, fame, and fortune counted for nothing. “What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” But their actions in service of others whom God brought them into relationship with, counted for everything. This is what God values highly.
Here is an example passage from the book, from an art professor who had a heart attack while leading students on a tour of Paris.
In my life review, I had to turn away numerous times when I saw myself treating my children in unloving ways. … The most disturbing behaviors I witnessed in my life review were the times when I cared more about my career as an artist and college professor than about their need to be loved. The emotional abandonment of my children was devastating to review. … I begged them to stop it because I was so ashamed of my failure to live lovingly and because of the grief I caused God, Jesus, and the heavenly beings. The only reason I could bear to proceed was because of their love for me. No matter what we watched me do in life, they communicated their love for me, even as they expressed their disapproval of the things I did.
And another, from a young Australian who was in a surfing accident:
Every detail of twenty years of living was there to be looked at. The good, the bad, the high points, the run-of-the-mill. And with this all-inclusive view came a question. It was implicit in every scene and, like the scenes themselves, seemed to proceed from the living Light beside me.
What did you do with your life?
This made a profound impression on me. Where have I neglected relational love and service for others? How can I live differently?
I can recommend Imagine Heaven just for the impact of this message. But the entire book Imagine Heaven is fascinating. Who doesn’t want to read about other people’s glimpses into the afterlife. John Burke’s approach comes from his background as an engineer, so he carefully presents various points of view, but explains how the evidence points to the biblical narrative as the best explanation for what is commonly experienced during NDEs.
Another very interesting conclusion he reaches is about the Biblical theophanies (when the heavenly realms are revealed, such as in Isaiah 6 or Revelation 4). He had always interpreted them figuratively. But as NDE after NDE reported seeing a heavenly city, gates made of pearl, streets of transparent gold … well, he began to wonder if these theophanies are not much more literal than he had realized. This should encourage us to gaze on “the Beauty Realm” in ever more fervent hope.
Read Imagine Heaven! Then pass it on to some friends, especially those who have doubts, are discouraged, or are afraid of death.