The Light Beyond and the Question of Intimacy
The world seemed to shatter, the vibrant colors of his everyday life fading into a blinding white. For David, a young man in his early twenties struggling with the weight of societal expectations and personal insecurities, it began with the screech of tires, a sickening crunch, and then… an overwhelming silence. He’d been on his motorcycle, a mode of transportation that usually gave him a sense of freedom, when the unthinkable happened. Now, he found himself floating in a space that defied description.
It wasn’t a void of darkness; it was a realm of light, a soft, pervasive luminescence that filled every corner of his perception. He wasn’t afraid. Instead, a wave of profound tranquility washed over him, a sensation of peace he’d never known in his earthly existence. He felt lighter than air, as if all the burdens he’d carried were lifted.
He was drawn forward, as if by an invisible current, until he found himself standing before a being of unimaginable radiance. It was Jesus, not as he had envisioned in stained-glass windows or religious iconography, but as a presence of pure love and understanding. He was both regal and approachable, radiating an aura of gentle power.
“David,” the voice resonated, not through sound waves, but directly into his consciousness. “Welcome. You have come to me for a time.”
David, a bit overwhelmed but inexplicably calm, bowed his head. He had grown up in a religious household, but struggled to reconcile the strictures of the church with his own inner life. He believed in God but had always been hesitant to express his doubts and questions. Now, in the presence of Jesus, those doubts seemed to melt away, replaced by a profound curiosity.
“I… I have so many questions,” David said, the words forming effortlessly.
Jesus smiled, a gesture that conveyed both compassion and understanding. “Ask, my son. For here, the veils are lifted. All that is hidden will be revealed.”
David’s mind raced. He wanted to ask about life after death, about the meaning of suffering, about the nature of God’s love. But one particular question, one that had been a source of guilt and confusion for years, took precedence. “What… what about masturbation?” He blurted it out, a wave of embarrassment washing over him even in this otherworldly setting.
The figure of Jesus didn’t flinch. His gaze remained loving, unwavering. “Ah, yes,” Jesus responded, his voice carrying a note of understanding, “the act of self-pleasure. Many have struggled with this, burdened by shame and judgment.”
David was stunned. He’d expected condemnation, perhaps a stern rebuke, but instead, he was met with empathy. He’d carried this internal conflict for years, torn between the natural urge and the teachings that labeled it as a sin.
“On earth,” Jesus began, his voice now taking on a more pedagogical tone, “you have been taught many things about the body, about intimacy, about what is considered acceptable and unacceptable. But these teachings have often been clouded by fear and misinterpretation. The true essence of these things is not what has been taught.”
He gestured with his hand, and a series of images flashed before David’s eyes. He saw the beauty of human connection, the joy of love and intimacy between partners. He also saw the pain and loneliness that came from the inability to form those connections.
“The body is a gift, a vessel for experiencing the wonders of creation,” Jesus continued. “It is capable of giving and receiving pleasure, of experiencing the depth of emotion. It is not inherently sinful or impure.”
David found himself breathing easier, the weight of guilt he’d carried for so long starting to dissolve. He had always felt trapped by the belief that his body was something to be controlled, something to be ashamed of.
“Masturbation,” Jesus explained, “is not the evil that it is often portrayed to be. It is not an act that separates you from God. Like all things, it is simply an action that, when practiced with mindfulness and understanding, can be a neutral expression of your human experience. It can be a form of self-discovery, of understanding your own body, and of experiencing the pleasure of being human. The problem comes when it becomes compulsive, when it becomes an escape from genuine connection, when it feeds on feelings of shame and isolation.”
Jesus went on to clarify that while self-pleasure was not in itself a sin, it was also important to understand that it wasn’t the sole purpose of human connection. True intimacy came from the mutual giving and receiving of love, not just the release of physical urges.
“Your earthly teachings focused on avoiding certain acts, often leading to shame and repression. I teach you to focus on the intention behind your actions,” Jesus explained. “Is it an act of love? Is it an act of self-care? Is it something you can experience with peace? Or is it something you are hiding and doing in shame? This is where you can find truth.”
He emphasized the importance of self-acceptance, of understanding the needs and desires of your own body, and of approaching all aspects of your life with compassion and understanding, including the intimate aspects. It wasn’t about following a strict set of rules but was instead about living life with love as the guiding principle.
“Many have misused their bodies, have exploited others, have reduced themselves to objects. That is what separates you from God, not the simple act of self-pleasure,” Jesus said, His voice carrying a note of sadness. “The harm lies in the lack of love, not in the physical act itself.”
David felt a profound sense of relief. The fear, the guilt, the self-loathing he had carried for years evaporated in the face of this understanding. He realized that his relationship with his body was not something to be ashamed of, but something to be embraced with love and respect.
He had further questions, about healthy sexuality, about boundaries and consent. And Jesus gently guided him not with answers but with guiding questions that lead David to seek and find his own truth. He was learning that genuine spiritual experience did not come from external authority but from deep introspection and the willingness to live in accordance with divine love.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the experience ended. David found himself gasping for breath in a hospital bed. The bright lights of the room seemed harsh after the warm glow of the other realm. The doctors and nurses were bustling around, calling him a miracle case. He had been technically dead for several minutes.
He lay there, staring at the ceiling, the memory of Jesus’ words and the overwhelming feeling of love still fresh in his mind. He knew that he had been given a precious gift, a new perspective on life, and a profound understanding of himself.
He knew he couldn’t go back to living his life the same way he had been. He had to integrate what he had learned, to live with love and self-acceptance, and to share this newfound understanding with others. He realized that he had been trying to live up to a standard that wasn’t true, that true spirituality was not about the suppression of natural desires, but about living with intention and love.
David did not become a radical. He did not abandon his faith. Instead, he returned as a man transformed. He was now free from the guilt that had been weighing him down, free to embrace his own sexuality and to share his experience with other people, in the spirit of compassion. He was no longer living in fear, but living in love.
He continued to live his life with kindness, compassion, and acceptance. He started volunteering at youth centres, sharing his experiences and encouraging young people to be more accepting of themselves. He spoke of the need for open and honest dialogue about sexuality, and the importance of self-love and self-acceptance.
His near-death experience was a deeply personal and transformative journey. It was a message that there is love and acceptance even in places where we expect to find shame and judgement. He understood that the path to God was not about perfection but about progress, about growth, about understanding ourselves, our desires, and our relationships, and about living a life that was guided by love in all aspects.
This then was the shocking truth revealed by Jesus about masturbation— that it is not an act of sin when done from a place of mindfulness and self-love. It was instead about intention, not actions, and about living a life grounded in compassion, acceptance and love. The true path was not about blindly following rules, but about finding the divine in the full spectrum of the human experience, and living from a place of authentic self-love. The revelation wasn’t about permission, but about understanding.
