Riley H

I Died and Met God It was supposed to be an ordinary day at the lake. No partying, no reckless stunts—just me, the sun, two friends, and the water. It was about 7 p.m. We were making one last ride before calling it a day. We had already fallen off the jet ski earlier and were getting back on when, as we sat down and got ready to go, the machine slipped forward and shot out from underneath me while I stood still. I didn’t hit anything. There wasn’t a crash. But the force of the water pressure as it struck me tore through my body internally. It gutted me. That’s the only way I know how to explain it. I was torn open from the inside out, and as I looked around, I could see blood surrounding me in the water. I realized: My insides were coming out. They got me back on the jet ski and headed to shore. Everything that was supposed to be inside me was coming out. And I saw it. By the grace of God, we made it to shore. Someone had already called for help after hearing my screams. They laid me down on a picnic table, bleeding, broken, and slipping away. But that’s when the next trauma began. My lungs wouldn’t expand. Water had filled my abdomen and created pressure around my chest. I couldn’t breathe. My body couldn’t breathe. The little oxygen I had in that moment was all I could get in and out of my lungs. I started to suffocate. And I knew—I was dying. But here’s the strangest part: I didn’t feel fear. As I watched people around me panic, a heavy calm settled over me. Everything got quiet. It was like time slowed down just for me. I looked around, fully aware, and began to make peace with what was coming. Then the ambulance arrived. They lifted me in. And the moment those doors shut behind me—I died. --- The Moment My Spirit Left I left my body. I could see it, but I was no longer attached to it. There was no pain, no panic—just complete awareness. And then something unexpected happened: I had a life review. Every single person I had ever loved appeared before me. I remembered what they smelled like, what they sounded like. Faces from my childhood, loved ones I had forgotten, people who had passed years ago. Every soul that left a mark on mine came flooding back. As I began to ascend, I wasn’t flying through clouds. I was rising in understanding. I saw the impact of my death. I was being shown how it would break the hearts of the people I loved. At the same time, I started receiving knowledge—things I had never studied, truths I never asked for (and some I did). So much wisdom was downloaded into me as the veil was lifting. And then… I arrived somewhere. --- A Glimpse of Heaven It was the most beautiful peace I’ve ever known—not just emotionally, but physically, visually, spiritually. The colors, the calm, the overwhelming presence of love… It was Heaven, or at least part of it. Then… a light appeared. It started as what looked like the most breathtaking sunset I’d ever seen. But as it got closer, I saw it wasn’t just a sunset—there was a silhouette of a man. A man made of light, love, peace, power, truth. But not just any man. It was God. I knew it instantly. He didn’t have to say His name. He was the name. His presence said everything. And then… He spoke. But not out loud. He didn’t need to. He spoke straight into me—into my spirit. *“Love is a choice. I am Love. And that life back there… was about Me. And you didn’t choose Me. You missed the boat.”* That moment wrecked me. I panicked. I wept. I repented with everything in me. I felt regret—deep, gut-wrenching, eternal regret. And even then… He was merciful. Then He said: *“You’ve impacted enough of My people… So I’ll let you go back. But you must stay awake. If you don’t—the cards will lay where they lay.”* And just before I left, He gave me one last truth: *“You’ll never be able to be perfect.”* --- Back in My Body And then, just like that—I was back. In the ambulance. In the pain. In the fight. I would go on to suffer through five hours of agony with no pain meds, no sedation, no answers. Just me, bleeding out and holding on. But I lived. Not because I was lucky. Not because I was strong. But because God sent me back. To live intentionally. To point people toward Him. To remind the world that this isn’t it. Death is not the end. It’s the most loving transition we’ll ever experience—if we know Him. --- I don’t tell this story because it’s dramatic. I tell it because it’s real. I met God. And He’s not an idea. He’s not just a “higher power.” He is real. He is love. And He’s waiting. I was dead. And now I’m alive. Not just in body—but in spirit. And I’ll never be the same again. ================================= Dear Riley, Thank you for sharing your remarkable near-death experience with NDERF! Your account will be posted anonymously on our website within the next several days and included in the Registry of Exceptional Experiences. What you have shared will serve as a source of inspiration for a wide audience. I do have several follow-up questions, which you are under no obligation to answer. In your account, you mentioned the following: Survey question: ‘During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?’ “Yes I don’t know where to begin there was a lot.” Also in what you shared “In that realm, I suddenly understood things I had never even questioned before. It wasn’t like gaining new information it was like remembering something ancient and sacred. I had an awareness of purpose, creation, eternity, love, pain, and the weight of every soul. I knew why certain things happened in my life. I understood the connection between people, events, and spiritual truth in a way that words can’t explain. It was as if the veil had been pulled back, and I was seeing the architecture of existence through God’s eyes.” Any additional details you could provide on both of these questions would be appreciated! THANKS again for sharing your remarkable NDE! Best regards, Jeffrey Jeffrey Long, MD Founder, NDERF =============================== One of the most moving things I saw was how everything in Heaven lives in full harmony and purpose. Animals, flowers, colors, even the air it all worships. Everything is alive with meaning, and everything is for God. The animals weren’t just present they were worshiping. In equal harmony with people and nature. It reminded me a bit of Earth, but fuller, richer, and more alive. Heaven wasn’t still or passive. It was vibrant and filled with motion, purpose, and deep joy. Every soul, every sound, every creation existed in perfect unity. And still, there were elements that felt familiar. It wasn’t foreign it felt like home, I knew I’d been there, just unfiltered and fully awakened. The gates of Heaven stretched endlessly. They were unlike anything I’ve ever seen, gold, pearl, iridescent light, and gemstones that don’t even exist here. The colors contained hues beyond this realm and don’t exist here. I heard sounds and instruments that I’d never heard before, all harmonizing in praise. Lastly, God downloaded me with this truth: when we don’t go to Heaven, we’re still shown it. He shows every soul what was waiting. And because of that, eternity apart from Him comes with the weight of regret. I can only regret what I know was real. And everyone is shown the truth, regardless of where I am going or end up. ======================================== I’ve shared a very brief version of my experience on YouTube, which I hope might offer additional clarity: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk7Ma_O8lM0oId66KQluPu_RphGMN2Xul That being said, even that version doesn’t come close to capturing the depth of what I was shown. In that realm, I didn’t just gain insight, it was as if I was downloaded with layers of spiritual understanding. I saw how my life and death would impact those I love. I saw how my father was headed toward unhealthy coping, how my sister and brother would be spiritually lost and carry deep grief. God allowed me to witness how my absence would affect others’ eternity and it was then I understood that the way we die isn’t random. It’s strategic. It’s love. Our death becomes a message that God uses to reach those we leave behind. I was also shown that who surrounds you at the time of death matters. If you’re around non-believers, your departure may become part of their awakening, which can be painful, but still purposeful. It’s why being surrounded by fellow believers, especially in our final moments, holds such weight. I was shown glimpses of the past and future. I saw spiritual truth about Jesus’ reign on Earth, and a prophetic vision of what the world will look like in the absence of God during the end times. I felt that truth in my bones. It wasn’t information, rather it was and ancient, sacred, and familiar remembrance. God also revealed the structure of Heaven: people working, living with joy, purpose, and community, without pain or the limitations of time. I saw that spiritual gifts we’re given here are used and fulfilled in eternity. Pets were there. Relationships remained intact, magnified by purity and eternal connection. Our love languages, joys, and identities weren’t erased they were glorified. Everything good here is just a dim reflection of what’s waiting there. Generational spirituality was made clear to me. We inherit more than we understand both blessings and spiritual weights. Our ancestors matter. Our choices ripple. And healing those lineages matters deeply in the unseen world. I don’t know if there’s any perfect way to articulate the architecture of what I saw, but I know this: it’s all deeply connected, and so much more meaningful than we realize in this life. Thank you again for giving people like me a platform to speak truth into the unknown. I’m honored to be part of something bigger.