Heaven is for Real

I recently finished the bestseller Heaven Is For Real. It was a quick, easy read. It kept my attention the whole time.  However, there were several things in the book that bothered me.

I believe the Holy Word of God is complete, finished and inerrant.

It is FINISHED.

We cannot add to it. There is no NEW information, no NEW Scripture.

God has given us all we need to know for salvation, how to live, and HEAVEN.

The boy in this book reveals NEW information about Heaven.  According to Colton (the boy in the book):

• Gabriel sits on the left hand of God
• Eveyone has wings
• Everyone has halos

None of these things are found in Scripture. If God wanted us to know more about Heaven, He would have said so in His Word. Everything we need to know about Heaven and NOTHING more is given to us in Scripture. It is a little frightening to me that this book proclaims to know more things about heaven than are revealed to us in Scripture.

We also know from Scripture that God is a magnificant being, His GLORY fills all of Heaven. The whole purpose of Heaven is to sing to, honor and glorify God the Father, God the Son & God the Holy Spirit.  Heaven is a place where GOD will be glorified for eternity.  The tone of this book did not bring much attention the glory, splendor and grandeur of God. Rather the theme seemed to convey that Heaven is more of a fun, beautiful place where Colton was able to see his grandpa and sister and meet saints of old (which, OF COURSE, are the many, many benefits of heaven.) But I have to think, that anyone who goes to heaven would not be able to speak enough about the glory of God, meeting their Creator and the joy that it was to glorify Him and make His Name Great.

In 2 Cor. 12, Paul speaks of seeing Heaven, but does not speak about what he saw. Matthew Henry gives great insight into perhaps WHY Paul did not share what he saw:

This account which the apostle gives us of his vision should check our curious desires after forbidden knowledge, and teach us to improve the revelation God has given us in his word. Paul himself, who had been in the third heaven, did not publish to the world what he had heard there, but adhered to the doctrine of Christ: on this foundation the church is built, and on this we must build our faith and hope.

I must agree. I must adhere to the doctine of Christ, not the doctrine of Colton.