You Have to Read This Book

I just finished one of the best books I have read in a while, Heaven is For REAL by Todd Burpo. Cole's mom recommended it to me, and it was truly one of the sweetest stories. Basically it is about a 3 1/2 year old boy who undergoes an emergency appendectomy. After the surgery he claims of visiting heaven, explains what his parents were doing in the hospital during his surgery, describes what Jesus looks like, shares events that happened before he was born, recognizes deceased family members pictures, and describes heaven in ways that match perfectly with Scripture. Sounds hokey, I know! But, you must read it!! It is a quick read and will change your view and desire for eternity!



This book has taught me a few lessons.

1) God answers prayer. Colton, the little boy, says that Jesus sent him back to earth specifically to answer his father's prayer. Wow!

2) What Jesus means when he calls Christians to have a "childlike" faith. Mark 10: 14-15 says,"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Colton was bold and plainspoken and honest and able to believe big things!! He did not doubt or question but was receptive.

3) Heaven is personal.

4) God "shoots down power" to believers to help us, strengthen us, encourage us, and love us in this world.

As believers, heaven is to be desired. God gives us very real glimpses of heaven in the Bible, and this story confirms everything it says! This world is hard, but heaven awaits those who trust in Him and live for Him. There will be no more suffering, no more hurting, no more sickness, no more aging bodies, no more stress, no more...you name it! There will only be joy and worshiping at the throne of God!

2 Corinthians 5:1-10
¹ For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, ³ because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. ⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The message is simple: Heaven IS for real.