Heaven is for Real

1. A sudden medical crisis tests a family's resilience and faith

To put it bluntly, the last time we had taken a family trip, one of our children almost died.

A sudden nightmare. The Burpo family's life was upended when four-year-old Colton fell critically ill with what was initially misdiagnosed as a simple stomach flu. This medical error allowed his appendix to rupture, leaking life-threatening toxins into his abdomen for five agonizing days before proper intervention.

The breaking point. As Colton slipped closer to death, his father Todd, a small-town pastor, faced a compounding series of personal trials. Having recently survived a shattered leg, kidney stones, and a breast cancer scare, Todd found his financial and emotional reserves completely shattered.

A desperate struggle. The family was forced to navigate the cold reality of medical uncertainty and administrative delays. Key moments of this crisis included:

• An agonizing ninety-mile drive to a larger hospital in North Platte
• The terrifying sight of the "shadow of death" on their young son's face
• The realization that human expertise had failed them, leaving only faith as an anchor

2. The boundary between life and death is thinner than we realize

I went up out of my body and I was looking down and I could see the doctor working on my body.

An extraordinary departure. During his emergency surgery, Colton experienced a near-death state where his consciousness detached from his physical form. He described hovering above the operating table, watching the medical team work on his body while simultaneously observing his parents in separate rooms.

Verifiable out-of-body details. What makes Colton's account highly credible is his knowledge of specific, private actions his parents took during the surgery. He accurately described his father praying angrily in a small, private room and his mother on the phone in another area.

Bridging two worlds. This experience challenges the materialistic view of consciousness, suggesting that our spiritual essence exists independently of our physical bodies. Colton's journey reveals:

• An immediate transition from physical pain to spiritual peace
• The ability to perceive earthly events from a detached, elevated perspective
• A seamless crossing into a realm populated by celestial beings

3. Children possess an unfiltered capacity for spiritual truth

Colton was in that narrow window of life where he hadn’t yet learned either tact or guile.

Uncorrupted spiritual vision. At just under four years old, Colton lacked the theological training or social conditioning to invent a complex, biblically accurate depiction of heaven. His descriptions were delivered with a matter-of-fact innocence, free from the desire to please or deceive his parents.

Theological accuracy without study. Colton spoke of profound spiritual realities, such as the wounds of Christ and the nature of the Trinity, using simple, childlike terminology. He referred to the crucifixion wounds as "red markers" and described the Holy Spirit as a blue, comforting presence.

A lesson in humility. This childlike perspective aligns with biblical teachings that emphasize humility as a prerequisite for entering the kingdom of heaven. Key aspects of this unfiltered faith include:

• An absolute trust in the reality of what he witnessed
• A lack of self-consciousness when sharing profound spiritual truths
• An intuitive understanding of divine love that bypasses intellectual skepticism

4. Heaven is populated by recognizable, restored loved ones

Dad, nobody’s old in heaven, and nobody wears glasses.

A youthful restoration. In heaven, Colton met his great-grandfather, "Pop," who had died thirty years before Colton was born. Rather than seeing an elderly, frail man, Colton saw Pop in his prime, completely restored to youth and vitality.

Visual proof of identity. When shown a photo of Pop at age sixty-one, Colton did not recognize him, explaining that no one in heaven is old. However, when later shown a photo of Pop as a twenty-nine-year-old man, Colton instantly identified him as the man he met in heaven.

The nature of heavenly bodies. This revelation suggests that our eternal state is one of physical perfection and restoration. Colton's observations of heavenly residents include:

• The absence of physical ailments, aging, or corrective devices like glasses
• The possession of wings and a radiant light, or halo, above their heads
• A distinct, recognizable identity that transcends the ravages of earthly time

5. The spiritual realm operates beyond earthly dimensions of time and space

God and Jesus light up heaven. It never gets dark. It’s always bright.

A different dimension. When asked how long he was in heaven, Colton replied "three minutes," a duration that aligns with the physical timeline of his surgery but contradicts the vast amount of experiences he described. This discrepancy highlights that heaven operates outside the linear constraints of earthly time.

The light of eternity. Colton explained that heaven has no need for the sun or moon because the glory of God provides constant, brilliant illumination. This environment is characterized by an array of vibrant, "rainbow" colors that do not exist on earth.

Transcending physical limits. The mechanics of heaven defy our understanding of physics and geography. Colton described several unique aspects of heavenly existence:

• The ability to travel instantly through flight or spiritual movement
• A lack of fatigue, hunger, or the need for sleep
• The coexistence of past, present, and future events in a single, eternal moment

6. Unspoken family secrets can be validated through divine revelation

She looked a lot like Cassie . . . she is just a little bit smaller, and she has dark hair.

An unexpected sister. Perhaps the most shocking revelation occurred when Colton announced that he had met his other sister in heaven. His parents had never told him about a miscarriage that occurred years before his birth, making it impossible for him to know about this lost child through earthly means.

Healing a mother's grief. Colton described a dark-haired girl who ran up to him in heaven, hugging him repeatedly and expressing her eager anticipation for her parents' arrival. He noted that she had no name because her parents had not named her—a detail that was painfully accurate.

Validation of eternal life. This profound encounter provided deep emotional healing to Sonja, who had carried the silent guilt and grief of the miscarriage for years. The revelation established several comforting truths:

• Unborn children who die in the womb are fully conscious and preserved in heaven
• They grow into recognizable, loving family members in the afterlife
• They retain a deep, spiritual connection to their earthly families

7. Honest, raw prayers are heard and answered by God

I was sitting by God the Holy Spirit because I was praying for you. You needed the Holy Spirit, so I prayed for you.

Raging at the Creator. During Colton's surgery, Todd experienced a moment of intense anger and despair, screaming at God in a private room and questioning the fairness of his trials. Rather than punishing this outburst, God met Todd's raw honesty with profound mercy.

Answering the desperate. While Todd was raging on earth, Colton was in heaven, sitting on the lap of Jesus and being comforted by angels. Colton revealed that Jesus sent him back to earth specifically because he was answering his father's desperate prayers.

The power of intercession. This narrative demonstrates that God values authentic, emotional communication over polished, religious rituals. It highlights the active connection between earthly prayers and heavenly responses:

• God welcomes our raw, unfiltered emotions and doubts
• The Holy Spirit actively intercedes for us during our weakest moments
• The prayers of a community can trigger miraculous physical healing

8. Spiritual warfare and a final triumph of good are real

The angels carry swords so they can keep Satan out of heaven!

A cosmic conflict. Colton's account of heaven was not merely one of peaceful clouds and harps; he also witnessed the reality of spiritual warfare. He described angels armed with swords patrolling the boundaries of heaven to keep dark forces at bay.

The coming battle. Colton spoke of a future conflict—the battle of Armageddon—where Jesus, the angels, and the "good people" will defeat Satan and his monsters. He even claimed to have seen his father, Todd, fighting in this battle with a sword or a bow.

An assured victory. Despite the frightening nature of these revelations, Colton delivered them with a cheerful confidence, secure in the knowledge of the final outcome. His insights into this spiritual reality include:

• Satan is a real, active adversary who is not yet confined to hell
• The forces of good are heavily armed and actively protecting the righteous
• The ultimate defeat of evil is already decided and guaranteed by Christ

9. Experiencing the miraculous transforms how we live on earth

I accepted the idea of heaven before, but now I visualize it.

A transformed ministry. The validation of Colton's trip to heaven radically altered the Burpo family's approach to their faith and ministry. They became bolder, more compassionate, and deeply committed to sharing the reality of eternity with a skeptical world.

Visualizing the Savior. For years, Colton rejected every painting of Jesus he saw, claiming the hair, clothes, or eyes were incorrect. This changed when he saw a portrait painted by Akiane Kramarik, another child prodigy who had visited heaven, and declared, "Dad, that one's right."

Living with eternal hope. Knowing that heaven is a tangible, vibrant reality allowed the Burpos and their congregation to face death and suffering with unprecedented peace. This shift in perspective manifests in several practical ways:

• A renewed focus on children's ministry, driven by Jesus' deep love for kids
• The ability to comfort grieving parents with firsthand evidence of their children's eternal safety
• A fearless approach to life, knowing that our earthly existence is merely a prelude to a glorious eternity