The movie “Heaven is For Real” opens up tomorrow, April 16th in theaters. It’s based on the #1 New York Times Bestseller book with the same name. It chronicles a near-death experience of a four year old boy, Colton Burpo, who ends up in “heaven” and lives to tell the details of this incredible trip. Upon talking to someone who read the book and told me some details, I was moved to hear how this little boy very vividly explained what heaven is like, what Jesus is like, the people he met in heaven and how he observed the world from above. It was incredible to find out how Colton encountered his grandfather and sister, whom he never got to meet, and astonished his parents with accurate information that was never shared with him. This story was a reminder that God is sovereign and powerful enough to reveal His glory to just a little child. Click here for more info on Colton’s story.
Another remarkable real-life story comes from a little girl from Illinois, Akiane Kramarik, who at just three years old heard God’s voice. She received visions and turned them into drawings and paintings. She is considered a child artist prodigy, not having any previous art lessons, and completely amazing everyone with her talent. Her parents were atheists and through the account of their daughter, they later became Christians. Click here for more info on Akiane’s story.
It’s refreshing to hear such wonderful testimonies from kids and it points us to the very heart of God, that He cares for each and every person He has created, whether young or old. As Jesus said in the book of Matthew:
“…when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’ ?” Matthew 21:15-16
As the movie opens up this week, let us pray that God would work in special ways through the story of Colton Burpo. And may people’s hearts be softened as a little boy’s faith and testimony proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ!
In Him,
The HPN Staff
