How can you know heaven is for real?

In one of the most mysterious accounts from the Bible, we know that the Apostle Paul had some inkling of what heaven is like. Evidently, he decided that ambiguity served a purpose, so he wrote the following:

"I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know – God knows" (2 Corinthians 12:2).

The last two words of that verse would serve us well today, as a plethora of books have been written about people who claim to have visited the world beyond.

Back in the 90's, Mary K. Baxter wrote "A Divine Revelation of Hell," in which she described what she claimed was a 40-day journey through hell, having been "given visions" by God. She said God told her to warn people to "choose life." Frankly, Baxter's book inspired a whole list of knock-offs; evidently we love to be scared and titillated.

Don Piper's recent "90 Minutes in Heaven" was a runaway bestseller.

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Now comes a book that is causing quite a stir, "Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back." Told by Colton Burpo's father, Todd, the title is already a No. 1 New York Times bestseller.

Surviving an emergency appendectomy was just the beginning of Colton Burpo's story. In "Heaven is for Real," a tale unfolds of Colton, over time, revealing his experience to his astonished parents.

The Burpos are a quintessentially American family. Todd pastors Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial, Neb. He is also a wrestling coach at the local school, serves on the school board and is a volunteer firefighter. Sonja is equally busy – the couple has three children: Cassie, Colton and Colby – working at a realty office. She also has a master's degree and assists with the couple's overhead door company. One can imagine, in a household that busy, just how jarring Colton's first revelations were regarding his hospital experience.

With the help of acclaimed writer Lynn Vincent, who provides the color on the canvas of this story, Todd Burpo begins by relating the family's trip to visit family in 2003. As they traveled to Sioux Falls, S.D., what began as family banter turned into a game-changing moment for the Burpo family. That's when Colton told his parents – as they passed the hospital where his emergency surgery had taken place 15 months before – that that was where the angels sang to him.

Say what?

Mom and Dad exchanged glances, and over time, Colton's story came out. Todd and Sonja began questioning Colton, who, as a child, seemed matter-of-fact about the whole experience. When he began describing things he couldn't have known, such as when his parents were on the phone or praying in his room, they asked him about that.

"'Cause I could see you," Colton said. "I went up out of my body and I was looking down and I could see the doctor working on my body. And I saw you and Mommy. You were in a little room by yourself praying; and Mommy was in a different room, and she was praying and talking on the phone."

Keep in mind, a four-year-old isn't sophisticated enough in his thinking yet to concoct a story like this.

The Burpos have had their share of grief – one pregnancy ended badly when they lost the baby, then they heard that their miracle child, Colton, had a ruptured appendix. Coping as best they could (Todd particularly recounts in touching detail what big buddies Sonja and Colton have always been), the parents began a nightmarish two-week journey that ended with their son's recovery. When he began regaling them more than a year later with tales of the afterlife, they naturally took notice.

"Heaven is for Real" unfolds as a rich story that emerged from the heart and mind of a little boy who was for some reason allowed to glimpse heaven.

Certainly, some readers will have theological problems with this story, but it must be noted that the Burpos are solidly evangelical, and an exchange between Todd and Colton clearly reveals that they understand salvation.

A photo section shows a remarkably handsome and happy family, and includes a photo of Colton's grandfather, who he said he saw in heaven. The details Colton revealed are, well, detailed. When questioned by Todd as to the time he spent in heaven, the blonde boy answered firmly, "Three minutes."

Noting that Colton never died in the hospital, Todd anticipates the theological questioning and relates that both Paul and John had visions of heaven.

Colton, now almost 12, has had numerous encounters with the media, needless to say. But perhaps he summed-up the theme of the book best when Todd asked him if he understood why Jesus died on the cross.

"Well, Jesus told me He died on the cross so that people on earth could go see His Dad."

For the Burpos, and the thousands who will read "Heaven is for Real," that answer will be all the theological answer they'll need.

Discover how real and relevant Bible prophecy is to you with Jim Fletcher's "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine): How to stop worrying and learn to love these end times"