Is heaven real or not? If heaven is real, then, could hell be real too? Is it possible for a good God to be so ‘wicked’ as to send unrepentant people to that horrible place? Are heaven and hell not fantasies of the mind to scare people into the straight and narrow path?
These were the questions raised in this movie about a real life story adapted from a book written by Todd Burpon and Lynn Vincent and directed by Randall Wallace.
Set in Nebraska, Todd Burpon is a minister of a small town church, Crossroads Wesleyan Church, and a maintenance man on the side who hardly takes money for his services and is very influential in his community, spreading acts of kindness everywhere.
He is married to Sonja, a singer and choir director of their church and they have two children, Cassie and Colton. A devoted family man, Todd is obviously dedicated to the work of ministry as he spends his time visiting sick people in the hospital and preaching to them about Jesus and urging them to receive salvation.
Things get interesting when after a vacation trip to Denver, both children fall sick, they get worried when Cassie recovers but Colton continues to get worse. They finally decide to take him to the hospital and when they get there the doctor decides immediately to perform a surgery as his appendix have ruptured and he is near death.
Todd and Sonja spend hours waiting to hear news about their son and deal with their grief separately. They ask friends to pray and finally hear that the operation is successful. Colton recovers completely and all seems to be well until Colton starts to tell his dad about his experience in heaven and how he saw Jesus. Todd is inclined to disbelieve him until the young boy mentions scenes he saw in the hospital while he was on the operating table.
Todd is baffled as hospital reports prove that Colton never died but Colton insists on what he saw, and continues to say things that he would ordinarily not know. In confusion, Todd goes to visit a child psychologist who is an atheist and debunks these experiences as fantasies and near-death experiences. This also affects Todd’s ministry, as he begins to doubt the things he has always preached as he wonders if indeed, heaven is real.
When fiery, confident minister Todd begins to stutter on the pulpit, the church becomes worried and then upset as he mentions his son’s experiences. They fall under criticisms and wonder as people question the validity of young Colton’s claims. One of the members of the church board expresses her displeasure as she believes that heaven is just a fantasy to put people in check and if indeed heaven is real, then had they been living right to meet the requirements of heaven.
They ask Todd to stop preaching as their small church has become a media circus. They consider getting another preacher and with this development, the finances of the Burpons suffer as they struggle to pay bills accumulated from credits and the hospital. Their children are not left behind as they are teased unmercifully in school, putting a strain on the harmony in the family.
Despite doubts, Colton sticks to his beliefs and continues to reveal things he experienced in heaven. His parents finally believe him when he mentions something they never mentioned to anyone. Todd goes to church and addresses the huge crowd telling them that he believes his son and he now believes that heaven is indeed real and urges them to believe and live right.
This beautiful story is easily relatable as most modern-day believers seem to live without eternity in perspective. They get uncomfortable when heaven or hell is mentioned and instead prefer to focus on the grace-message of Christianity. The subtle message in this film pierces this notion and forces people to think hard on the afterlife.
Heaven is indeed real and is open for anyone who believes and confesses Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour. The afterlife is real, heaven or hell, you decide where you end up.