Heaven is Most Definitely For Real

I would like to talk about stories of people who have claimed to have taken a trip to Heaven. And I will use two particular examples.

There was the story of Colton Burpo who said that he visited Heaven while undergoing surgery. The story is told by his father Todd Burpo in the book “Heaven is For Real”. This book has since been made into a movie of the same name.  

And then there was the story about Alex Malarkey. Alex was 6 years old when he was in a severe car accident that left him comatose. Upon awakening from his coma, he said that he had visited Heaven.

He said that he saw himself at the accident scene, and in the hospital while he was comatose. And that he met angels who guided him through the gates of Heaven. And he also said that he had met Jesus while there.

His story was told in a book entitled “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven”. He later recanted his story.  And he admitted that he lied because he thought it would gain attention.

And at the time he had not yet read the Bible. He has since read the Bible, and now says that it is the only source of truth.

The two boys’ stories were somewhat similar. It seems to me that Alex’s story was influenced at least to some degree by Colton’s story.

For decades, people have told stories of what they refer to as “near death experiences.” These accounts have differed from person to person. Logic would say that they can all be wrong, but they all can’t be right. Otherwise, all accounts would be the same.

The main point here is that the Bible is in fact the only source of Truth. And now Alex Malarkey understands this. According to the Bible, man is not permitted to tell of anything he saw if he does go to Heaven.

For proof of this point, we need only refer to the following Scripture passage:

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows– was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)

My hope is that others will not be lead to believe that the stories they hear about any of these “experiences” are true. And that if they are in doubt, they will refer to what the Bible says.

The Steadfast Watchman