A Brief Heaven is for Real Book Review

So why do a Heaven is for Real book review on a site that’s about encouraging Bible verses? Well, if you’re like me you’re not only interested in reading the good news in the Bible, but you’re also interested in reading encouraging testimonies from other Christians about how God has worked in their lives.

I have to admit that it took me a while to get around to reading this short but powerful book. My wife had recommended Heaven is for Real to me after borrowing it from a co-worker. After also hearing positive things about it from others I decided to pick it up and give it a read over the Christmas holidays.

And, was I glad I did. The story is, in many ways, a lighter reflection of the same themes found in The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven. Interestingly, both books were originally published in 2010, and both boys (Colton Burpo and Alex Malarkey) relate experiences with heaven and meeting God that are startlingly parallel in their recollection.

I’ll review The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven in a later post, because in my opinion it’s just as powerful an account of a child’s experiences with God and heaven as is Heaven is for Real. For this post and review however, I’ll stick with relating my impressions of the latter book.

A Synopsis of Heaven is for Real

In March 2003, four-year old Colton Burpo suffered a ruptured appendix that was misdiagnosed, causing his body to go septic and bringing him dangerously close to death. After an emergency surgery to repair the rupture and clean out his abdominal cavity of the infection, he recovered and returned to his family, and soon began recounting memories and experiences that indicated he had visited heaven during his surgery.

Although Colton’s dad Todd Burpo readily admits that the medical record from the hospital shows no indication Colton “died” during surgery, it is quite apparent from the story related by Mr. Burpo that at times the medical staff doubted he would make it. According to the timeline presented in the book, Colton spent several days with a ruptured appendix dumping infected body fluids into his abdominal cavity, a life-threatening situation to say the least. Although there was no indication to the hospital staff that he was clinically dead at any time during surgery, it’s apparent that his life was hanging in the balance during the surgery.

I’d rather not spoil the book for you if you haven’t read it by giving you too many details regarding the experiences Colton related to his parents in the months and years following his brush with death. However, I will say that the story and details related by Colton are certainly well beyond the bounds of what a person would expect a four-year old boy to be able to manufacture. And, certain of the details in his account relate directly to obscure bits of Bible scripture that no four-year old would be likely to know.

In addition, Colton recounts meeting his deceased great-grandfather. When shown a picture of his great-grandfather that was taken shortly before he passed on, he failed to recognize him. However, his parents procured a photo of Colton’s great-grandfather when he was a young man, and without any prompting or hints whatsoever he recognized “Pop” instantly. This is just one of many such experiences Mr. Burpo recounts in the book that certainly give credence to the Burpo’s account.

So What Can We Take Away From Colton’s Story?

First off, I highly recommend that you read the book, if only to read Mr. Burpo’s account of how God answered his prayer. Yet, beyond that I believe it’s a reliable account of a young man who was blessed with a glimpse of heaven before his time. For a believing Christian, it’s incredibly encouraging to read of such accounts when they are filtered through the lens of scripture and found to be in keeping with what the Bible tells us of heaven and God.

After reading this book and Alex Malarkey’s story I was both encouraged and uplifted by the way both boys relate the majesty of heaven and what it must be like to be in God’s presence. Surely words cannot do such an experience justice, but even a small glimpse of heaven seen “through a glass, darkly” is enough to encourage believing Christians regarding the majesty of heaven that we will one day experience firsthand.

That’s it for my Heaven is for Real book review; I found it to be an enjoyable and encouraging story of how God answered prayer in the most amazing way for a young boy and his family.

Jesus told us in no uncertain terms that we would have troubles in this world. Yet, as is typically the case when Christ gives us bad news, He couples it with Good News that far outweighs the bad.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NIV, bold and italics mine)

Of particular note to those of us who need encouragement is the fact that Christ defeated the “evil one” at the cross. Christ died for our sins, so that we would no longer stand accused because of our sin. In short, Christ took our shame away.

I know it’s hard to think of spiritual things when you’re hurting so much in the here and now. That being said, if you are troubled about things that are going on in your life right now, just remember what Jesus did at the cross, and know that you have a Savior who loves you so much He died for you.

And, Jesus desperately wants to have a relationship with you, so He can ease your sorrow:

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

Want to know more? A good place to start would be to read the individual study guide at WayofChrist.info – it’s free, and it will help you understand more about Jesus and what salvation in Christ really means.

“But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” – Hebrews 3:6, NIV

Scriptures often refer to how faithful God is to His people. God keeps His promises, and He is the same now, tomorrow, and forever.

Just the same, the Son is faithful just as the Father. What that means to us is that Jesus is watching over us, faithfully… He knows your every hurt, your every pain, your every struggle.

Yet, it is up to us to hold on to courage, in the sense that we must guard our hope in a Savior who died for all our sins, so that we can be redeemed.

And if we start to lose courage, and we start to see hope slipping away, then it’s time to ask God to provide us with courage and hope.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” – from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7, Verses 7 and 8 (NIV)

…

“1 Give thanks to the Lord and pray to him.
Tell the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him; sing praises to him.
Tell about all his miracles.
3 Be glad that you are his;
let those who seek the Lord be happy.
4 Depend on the Lord and his strength;
always go to him for help.
5 Remember the miracles he has done;
remember his wonders and his decisions.
6 You are descendants of his servant Abraham,
the children of Jacob, his chosen people.
7 He is the Lord our God.
His laws are for all the world.
8 He will keep his agreement forever;
He will keep his promises always.”

- Psalm 105, Verses 1-8 (New Century Version, quotes, italics, and bold mine)

Have you ever felt like God had abandoned you? Maybe you feel like that today… I know there have been times when I have felt that way.

However, we need to remember that God always keeps His promises. He will never forsake you nor leave you, as we are told in Deuteronomy 31:6 -

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV, bold mine)

Isn’t that an awesome promise? I know it makes me feel that I’m loved, to know that I have a Father in heaven who will never leave me, and a Saviour who petitions my cause at the throne of my Father in Heaven.

So, depend on the Lord and His strength, and always go to Him for help… you won’t have to go very far.

^“114 You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope.” – Psalm 119:114 (New Living Translation)

Psalm 119 verse 114 is a reminder to us not only that the Lord is looking out for us, but also that He has left us a powerful source of hope and encouragement.

Reading Bible verses for encouragement is not just a good idea; according to the Psalmist it is the prescribed source of hope for those in need of comfort.

In 2 Corinthians 1 verses 3 through 7, Paul writes the following as he opens his second letter to the church in Corinth:

“³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. ⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. ⁵ For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. ⁶ Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. ⁷ We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NLT, bold text mine)

How interesting that Paul tells the reader that God is the source of all comfort. Obviously, Paul’s purpose in this was to remind the reader that we should look to the Lord first, foremost, and always for comfort in our time of troubles.

So, if you’re hurting, pray to God that he provides you with comfort in your time of troubles. He’s there for you… turn to Him and let the Lord who loves you carry your burden.

“In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.” -John 16:33 New Century Version

One thing you’ll notice when you read the words of Jesus in the scripture – He doesn’t mince words. Christ lets us know exactly what to expect from the world. Yet, the Lord’s message always comes with a promise of salvation and everlasting life.

So, be brave!

No matter what troubles may come our way, our Saviour has defeated the world.

18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.

I love this Psalm because it offers us a promise, and also tells us something about God.

In verse 18, we’re told that God is watching over those who fear Him and who place their hope in His love.

Then, in verse 20, we’re told to “wait in hope”. Sometimes, I think waiting for God to move is the hardest thing to do when you’re hurting and afraid. We tend to want to be delivered from whatever pain or heartache we’re dealing with right away; the thing is, it’s often in the midst of that pain that the love of God is revealed.

Yes, learning to wait patiently on the Lord during our time of need is difficult… but through doing so we can also learn more about God’s love for us than we ever thought possible.

On faith:

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

On hope:

“(1)Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2)through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (3)Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (4)perseverance, character; and character, hope. (5)And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” – Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

On worrying:

(22)Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. (23)Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. (24)Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! (25)Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (26)Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

(27)“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (28)If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (29)And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. (30)For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. (31)But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. – Luke 12:22-31 (NIV)

On God’s plan for us:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)