There is a well known book and now a movie entitled, “Heaven is for Real”. It is the account of a young boy named Colton Burpo who says that during a life-saving surgery, that he visited heaven. The story is very convincing as Colton shares information he normally would not know unless someone had to him.

His father, Todd Burpo, is a small town pastor. I sense his struggle to share this story and how it would be received.

I am very skeptical about the account. David Platt gives his reasoning from Scripture as to why he does not think the story is true. You can view David Platt’s view on YouTube.

Other whom I respect have praised the story and movie saying it is a way to initiate discussion about Heaven, and God.

I have two main issues with the account.

First, The family references another child who had the same experience as Colton. Her name is Akiane. When you Google Akiane, you will see that she makes no profession of Christ. Her parents were not “spiritual’ and did not acknowledge a god. One of the paintings Akiane did was of Jesus, which is reprinted in the book Heaven is for Real.

They seem to use this second occurrence of a child going to heaven to validate Colton’s experience. I struggle with that because I have a hard time believing that one would go to Heaven, see Jesus, and return to Earth not acknowledging Him for Who He is. You can see an interview with Akiane on YouTube. At about the 13:00 mark, she is questioned about her spirituality, and her journey since her trip to heaven.

Second, In Luke 19:16-31, Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus:

… 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ ….. 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers — so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” (emphasis added)

Jesus was referring to Himself. He came back form the dead and people still do not believe. As David Platt noted, we have the Scriptures, why would God have someone come back from the dead to share about Heaven?

Many people I know and respect will encourage you to watch the movie. I will leave that decision up to you, the parent. I am personally very skeptical about the account, though it is a feel good movie. You will leave feeling good about heaven.  Let me present a different view. If Colton came back and said that “Pop” was in heaven, but Pop’s wife was not, and he was adamant about that, would that change the story? Would that change how you view God and heaven? Click here to read a parody of the Heaven is for Real Story where the child states that Grandma’s Not in Heaven.

The bottom line for me is that Heaven is for real, and so is Hell. Today’s culture looks for everyone to go to Heaven, unless they are obviously evil. I frequently hear that people are now angels, in a better place, and on and on, whether it is known if they made a profession of faith in Jesus or not.

Heaven and Hell are real. Do you know where you will go when you leave this life? God wants to restore that fellowship, but we must have faith in what Jesus did on the cross for us, for you, for me. If not, then you are separated from God forever.  Heaven is for Real, whether Colton’s story is or not. What are you going to do with the knowledge that Heaven is for real? Will you tell others, or acquiesce and let them go to Hell?

The decision is yours….