Heaven Is for Real is a compelling story; i must admit, that after i read it, i was caught up with fascination with parts of it. i embraced portions of the story and the parts that seemed off, i wanted to brush them aside. But i discovered that some parts of the story began to challenge sound theology grounded in the unchangeable, inerrant Scripture. Rather than challenge the story which so many have grown an attachment, let us look at that which cannot be denied--the written Word of God. What does Paul say in 2 Corinthians 12? Colt Burpo isnt the only one having a heavenly experience; Paul did too. There was a time (Acts 14:19-20) when he was left for dead, but after prayer of others, got up and walked away. He refuses to boast about all the things that he saw, even though he knows for certain that what he saw and heard spoken is the truth. So why is there not a book written by Paul that is all about heaven? He refuses to write and boast all about heaven and his experience because the focus would then be on him and his experiences and not on Jesus Christ! In fact, he is so proud of this experience that God sends a thorn in the flesh to humble him to keep his focus on Christ. Paul chooses to boast in his weakness from that point. Even Paul was caught up with fascination about heaven, taking his focus from Christ. If a vision or experience is given to you, keep in mind that it is for you, to draw you closer to Christ (the same as it was for the prophets and apostles). From that point on, your purpose is to promote Christ, not your vision/experience. If the focus becomes transformed into raising you above attention on Christ, you are allowing yourself to become competition for Christ. That is not a good place to be. There is only One worthy to open the seals; there is only one Revealer of Mysteries. 2 Corinthians 12:6-7--Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Revelation 5:4-5--Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.
Posted on: Fri, 09 May 2014 13:44:05 +0000
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