Is it possible for our loved ones in heaven to see us now?
Is there a way for them to know what we are doing? What is the biblical evidence for or against whether or not our loved ones can see us from heaven?
Is there a way for them to know what we are doing? What is the biblical evidence for or against whether or not our loved ones can see us from heaven?
Heaven Bound
The
old saying is that if you are born once you will die twice but if you are born
twice, you die once. That means that if you only have a human birth and
are not saved, you will be lost at Christ’s return (Revelation 20:11-5).
Jesus
said that you are either “for me or against me” (Matthew 12:30). To make no
decision for Christ is to decide to reject Him and that will not go well on the
day of His visitation (John 3:36).
So
before we even dive into the question of whether or
not your loved ones can see
you from heaven ask yourself: “Am I
saved”? That is the biggest question of your life that you will
answer and give an account for (Romans 14:12; Matthew 12:36).
One Moment after Death
The
very moment after you die you are with the Lord; that is if you are
saved.
Paul
wrote that “to be absent from the body [is] to
be present with the Lord” (2
Corinthians 5:8) which also means that “while we are at home in the body we
are away from the Lord” (2
Corinthians 5:9).
When
Paul says “in the body” he means here on earth and when he speaks of “with the
Lord” we know that He means in heaven.
How
do we know that? Jesus is presently seated at the right hand of the
Father because after His death and resurrection, the Scriptures say that God “seated
him at his right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20).
This
means nothing less than Jesus “is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God” at
the very moment you are reading this (Hebrews 12:2).
By doing so, God has “highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9b).
By doing so, God has “highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9b).
Can My Saved Loved Ones See Me from
Heaven?
Many
use the verse in Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin
which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us” as
evidence that their loved ones can see them from heaven. But is that what this
verse is really about? I don’t believe it is.
Notice
the world “therefore” in Hebrews
12:1. What does Hebrews 12:1 speak about? It is a conclusion of
what was just said in Hebrews 11:39-40: “And all these, though commended
through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided
something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
A
good question to ask about Hebrews 12:1 is what is the “therefore,” there for? The word therefore ties into what was
previously written and what we read in Hebrews 12:1 tells us who these “cloud
of witnesses” were and what it was written for.
We
must also ask who it was written to because all
Scripture is written for us but
not every verse is written precisely to us. Some verses are prescriptive (for
us or some other audience) and some are descriptive (describing something).
For
example, the Book of
Hebrews is
written for us but some of it is written to the Jewish Christians who were
losing everything, including their lives, due to intense persecution.
Context
is everything in determining proper interpretation. The word “therefore” is like a coupling on a
train. It connects everything behind it and pulls it forward or together. So
the word “therefore” means a
conclusion is coming from what was just written behind the word “therefore.”
The
conclusion is not that we are surrounded by ”a
great cloud of witnesses”….supposedly cheering us on…but the conclusion is
found in the previous verse “let us lay aside every weight, and
sin which clings so closely [so we can] run with endurance the race that is set
before us” (Heb
11:39-40).
Any
great cloud of witnesses, if there were any that were watching us, would have
seen what was behind us…not what “is set
before us” which is what preceded Hebrews 12:1.
Hebrews
11:39-40 is written about those in the so called “Hall of Faith” (in Hebrews
chapter 11). So we see that this is not about our deceased loved ones but about
those that were “commended through their faith” and not your dear, sweet, saved
grandma.
Hebrews
chapter 11 is about encouraging Christians specifically, Jewish Christians, to
persevere and endure until the end.
Like
Lazarus and the Rich Man, there is an unbridgeable gap between heaven and hell
and the man in torment wanted to go back to warn his brothers about hell but
could not (Luke 16:19-31). Similarly, it is believed that no one can see
from heaven to earth, except God Himself.
Conclusion
I
could find no conclusive Bible evidence that our departed loved ones can see us
from heaven. We can only speculate at best. Where the Bible is
silent, I believe we ought to be.
Where
the Bible does not speak specifically on the subject, then we should not speak
specifically on the subject. The main thing that we can do is to make sure
we get there…and if we are saved…to take as many to heaven as we can by God’s
divine plan.
No
one goes to heaven by works, no one goes to heaven on the shirttails of his
parent’s faith, and no one goes to heaven by just professing Christ.
It is not just about professing Him but about possessing Him. He needs to be more than resident; He needs to be president in your life.
It is not just about professing Him but about possessing Him. He needs to be more than resident; He needs to be president in your life.
This
means you have to resign as chairman of the board of your own life. You
need to put Him ahead of all things on this earth: family, friends, job, riches…everything
(Matthew 6:33).
Decide
today and ensure so that you see your loved ones again in the Kingdom of
Heaven.
There is no other way except by the precious blood of the Lamb of
God, Jesus Christ the Lord (Romans 10:9-13;
Acts 4:12, 16:30-31; and John 3:17-18).
Are you
struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will play
out?
Why not
talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He says,
“I will instruct you and teach you the
way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm
32:8).
Ask God
to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and
begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son,
Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that
Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has
provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is
the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come
into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me
eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of
the Holy Spirit that is in me now. I surrender my life to You.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen.”
Related Posts:
“All the Way My Savior Leads Me”
lyrics
1. All the way my
Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
2. All the way my
Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
3. All the way my
Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
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