Have you ever wondered if people in heaven look down and see us?
This isn't a weird question if you have a loved one who has died. If you've wondered about it, rest assured that many others have too. It came up in my small group at A Widow's Journey Retreat earlier this month and all the ladies were very interested.
Pastor John Piper at www.desiringGod.org addresses the question with a compassionate and best-as-we-can-know calm that you will appreciate. I'm not able to imbed or copy it onto my site today, but if you click on the following link you'll find both the audio and written version. The audio is only eight minutes long and well worth the time.
You can listen to it and/or read the text right here.
Some may find it a little unnerving to think that we are being "watched." (And please don't ever tell a child that "Daddy is watching you." The younger ones will be looking out the window for him and the older ones will think you're batty). But I don't think it's like that at all, it's not about judgment or loneliness. And I'm sure there are better things to do in heaven than watch us. If they do occasionally look this way I like to think it's when we need to feel them cheering us on, don't you?
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured … Hebrews 12:1,2a NASB"Together on this marathon, we run for our lives. The track twists, turns, and changes unexpectedly. At certain points we trip and fall. But on the horizon, eternity stretches out...our finish line. Along the path, like spectators along the course... your loved ones and mine--urge us on.
God, too, is there. He watches. He urges.
He knows you and me. Whether you have entered this race as a young mother, a retiree, or somewhere in between--we never signed up for this club--but the marathon has begun.
Listen as you run, as you struggle and strain.
Do you hear the cheers from the heavenly grandstand?
Faintly, faintly they begin from afar."
(adapted from chapter one of Postcards from the Widows' Path). 💗
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