Heaven is for Real

From the moment I began to read the story of Todd and Sonja Burpo and their son Colton, I was fascinated.  This is a human drama of a family from rural America faced with the very real chance of their 3 ½ year old son dying before their eyes, so they set out to fight for his survival.  Going to battle for him, both on the medical and spiritual front, they watch this tiny little warrior pull through, only to later hear an amazing story from him.  Little Colton tells his parent, in the matter of fact way that only toddlers can, of being in Heaven.  Skeptical at first, as I admit I am, his parents are brought around as details that he could not possibly know first-hand trip glibly off this four year old tongue. 

On a human level, I was touched and moved.  I was encouraged and smiled widely to think of my own dad whom only a few months ago I bid farewell to as a not quite 71 year old Alzheimer’s patient, young again in the place Colton described so vividly.  To visualize him with no physical ailments and with a mind sharp and keen again is a wonderful image, no doubt.  As I read of Colton being swept into an embrace by the sister miscarried by his mom that he never knew about, I felt tears coursing down my cheeks.  As this child reassured his mother that Jesus’ Dad had adopted this little girl and that she couldn’t wait for her parents to arrive in heaven, I pictured all the people I knew over the years grieving over their personal losses.  I, too, have an unnamed child awaiting, and at least three grandchildren who will be added to our family table.

These details are things that make me yearn for this story to be true, for they are elements that bring peace and joy to our hearts.  To think of Jesus holding children on His lap in Heaven and answering our prayers personally is our dream.  But I am stumped as to how and why this happened, I guess.  Why this little boy, and why now?  Why not more often?

Paul was taken up to the third heaven, I know, but was forbidden to speak of the things he saw.  So why was little Colton given liberty the Apostle Paul wasn’t?  I don’t know.  Is this story true?  I’m not sure. 

But this I do know:  We do not base our faith on books written by men, we do not look for peace, comfort and truth in the tales told by our fellow men or pastors.  Truth comes from the inspired Word of God.  That is the basis for our hope, that is where we must look for truth.  If what we read does not line up with the Word, we must wonder.  But, in spite of it all, they did get the title right, because Heaven is so Real.