May of us have read books that have been reproduced into
movies. This is one movie you would be interested in after reading the book,
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL a bestselling book by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent. For me I
saw the movie first and then read the book. Both the book and the movie are
extremely powerful in that in the end, both answer our own questions regarding life
and the life-after.The most important question this movie answers is where it is we go when we die. We may not be part of a pastor's family, coincidentally I happen to be a pastor myself and have answered this question many times in my calling. Most of us have never had a near-death experience, but we go about our lives doing much like the pastor Burpo’s family the main focus in the movie, going about their daily life as a family until the unexplainable happens.
Colton their 4 year old son became ill had an emergency appendectomy
surgery at which time he went to the actual heaven. Heaven is for Real is based
on the true story of Colton who experienced heaven. This 4 year old experienced
a divine appointment that not only changed the pastor’s family view of life
after death but could change the way you and I could view life here after.
Colton claims that there were angels singing to him, and
that he floated above the operating table and could see himself. He claims that
he saw his mom on the phone and his dad angrily praying (in separate rooms).
Later, he mentions meeting Jesus and sitting on His lap, as well as
encountering his mis-carried little sister and his great-grandfather. He says
that everyone in heaven is young, and there are many animals present too.
Heaven is a lot like earth, the little boy he narrates, except more colorful
and more beautiful. This 4 year old boy
claims that he saw the Son of God riding a horse
Heaven is for real has an agenda spelled out as faith-based
film, with a moral to counteract septic’s notion of heaven. Many of the experiences we have heard or read
about, the person’s in these experiences actually die. But Colton was just
under some really good anesthesia during surgery. After recovery from this
surgery Colton returns home changed by the experience something that left is
family bewildered. He knows things about his family that nobody has told him. Two
good examples are when Colton narrates where is father was praying for him in
the hospital chapel, and his mother in a different room, at the hospital’s
waiting area, on the phone calling family, friends and church members
requesting that they pray for her son. When asked how this is possible, Colton
insists that Jesus informed him on these matters. This young boy has knowledge
that leaves his father’s without words to explain these possibilities.
There is noticeable disagreement between church pastor Todd
and his wife Sonja as to whether Colton’s story is really true. Todd is being
consumed by his son’s story and what it spiritually means. At some point Sonja
demands that Todd focus on life instead of the afterlife. Like most of us would
do or feel, Sonja felt that Colton’s experience is taking away family time and
energy.
Out of despair and distress
Todd the pastor, visits a counselor who is not a Christian. What is interesting
is that the counselor offers a scientific explanation contrary to Todd’s
expectations. Todd is seen leaving the counselor’s office more frustrated than when
he came in.
The climax of the movie surfaces when Todd begins to
question his own faith upon realizing Colton may indeed have visited heaven. Even when we may want to focus in Colton’s experience
of heaven, “Heaven is for Real” also highlights Todd’s dilemma of not being
able explaining his son’s experience. The pastor’s faith is wearing out. Colton’s experience becomes so controversial
among Todd’s congregants to a point of him almost being replaced as a pastor of
the church. We see a search committee seeking explanation from Todd why this
issue is taking a lot of his energy and time, which he should be devoting to
the pastoral oversight of the church. Todd however kept his position as the
pastor to the Wesleyan church.
This is a family oriented movie that is highly recommended.
However interpretations depend with one’s own faith and belief about heaven. Is
Heaven real? For me it is.