Losing a loved one can be a difficult time no matter the circumstances of their passing. Whether it is a grandparent, parent, spouse, friend, or child, there is a time for mourning over them. Over time, some people will express that their loved ones are looking out for them or looking down on them.
Does the Bible say anything about those who have gone before us looking down at us? Many Christians will consider Hebrews 12:1-2 as their go-to passage justifying that claim. The writer of Hebrews says, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, 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 the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Seems like the Bible says we have heaven cheering for us, which that is not what that passage even suggests. In Hebrews 11, we see the writer going addressing the faith of many who have gone before us as they persevered in this life as they hold on to God by faith. We, as Christians, have a great cloud of witnesses, which is the list of people in Hebrews 11, which should cause us to keep on running with perseverance as we look on to Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:2 says we are to set our minds on things above. Paul said in Philippians 3:12, "I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." James says, "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (1:2-4).
Hebrews 12 and other passages give us no indication about those in heaven looking down on us as if they were watching over our lives. Now, some will ask about Luke 16, which is the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. The Bible says:
“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.
But a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.
Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, and the rich man also died and was buried.
And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things. But now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.
And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you are not able, and none may cross over from there to us.’
And he said, ‘Then I am asking you, father, that you send him to my father’s house—
for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’
But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31).
Lazarus went to Abraham's bosom, which means he was welcomed into the fellowship of saints in heaven, while the Rich Man went to Hell or Hades as translated in the Legacy Standard Bible, which is the place of the dead. Many have said this clear indication that those who are in heaven are looking down on earth. One problem, the conversation that Abraham and the Rich Man was happening while the Rich Man was in Hell.
There is no evidence that Luke 16 or Hebrews 12 suggests that our loved ones who have gone before us are looking down on us while we are still living on earth. While that may be comforting to those who have lost a loved one, it is not biblically accurate.
Let us also consider this, if we were to gain some form of glance from heaven to see our loved ones no matter where they are, we have become omniscient and omnipresent. We become like God in His attributes, which the Bible does not even suggest nor teach.
We can rest assure that our Heavenly Father does look down from heaven on us:
For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is wholly devoted to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Yahweh looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men (Psalm 33:13).
For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps (Job 34:21).
We can take comfort we have a God in heaven looking down on us and knows all things about us.
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