Disclosure: I received this book for review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Happy Easter, everyone! Amid the bunnies, eggs, and chocolate, our family stopped to remember that Jesus and his resurrection is the true reason that we celebrated today. It was upon my heart today to ponder: What if heaven isn’t for real? Would it change how I live?

You’ve probably seen the ads for the movie Heaven Is For Real.

I actually read this book a couple of years ago. Well, twice. The first time I read it, I passed it on to a friend. Then my mother-in-law gave me a copy and I passed it on to a friend, too. It’s just one of those books that begs to be passed on. The message of hope and grace is so powerful that it’s a gift to pass on. When I was given the chance to review Heaven Is For Real, I knew it was time to pass the message to my daughter. She is ten years old and has accepted Jesus as her savior.

She took the book to her room one Saturday night and came back with bright eyes a couple of hours later. She declared that she was on Chapter 11.  When I asked her what she liked about the book, she told me that it was amazing.  She felt the emotional tug of the heart when little Colton goes through one major medical crisis after another.  When she continued reading it, she commented that the picture of Jesus was beautiful.  The gift of heaven is already taking seed in her heart. This story is popular because it’s a message that people in today’s world need to hear.

Although the first section of the book in which Colton’s health dramatically declines was really tough for me to read, I pressed on.  As Colton describes his memories of heaven, I got chills.  I cried.  My heart was moved.  This story woke up the Holy Spirit inside me and whispered that I needed to share it with others.  Although the story is written by Colton’s dad, I felt that the integrity and innocence of Colton’s 3-year-old experience was reflected in the words.  The movie edition of the book contains interviews that I hadn’t heard before; I enjoyed finding out what Colton is doing these days.

What if heaven isn’t for real?  Would it change how I live?  NO.  No, it wouldn’t.  If heaven isn’t real, that means that I’ve led my life trying to be kind to others.  My heart has ached with compassion for those who need it, and it has soared with love for my fellow man.  I’ve devoted myself to living the way that Jesus would want, and there’s nothing I would change even if heaven isn’t real.

But what if it IS real?  Are you saved?  Have you accepted Jesus into your heart and been baptized to wash away your sin?  That’s my bigger concern.  I believe that heaven IS real.  I want you to be there when your time on this earth is over.  I believe that Jesus died for you and me so that we could be there with him for eternity.  And for that reason, it truly is a happy Easter.