Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
The saints that have gone to be with the Lord before us are interested in our spiritual walk. The scripture quoted above refers to them as a cloud of witnesses. The saints in heaven have no interest whatsoever; in any worldly achievements that we may accomplish on the earth, such as the attaining of wealth and prestige, for as far knowledge is concerned, the perfect has come for them. And they have full understanding that it is only that which is done in the spirit that counts for eternity. You will recall that the rich man, who went to hell, was concerned that because of their ignorance about spiritual matters, that his brothers would end up in the same place that he was. And so if those in hell understand what is important in this life, how much more those who are in heaven. However, even though the saints in heaven are aware of our spiritual progress, contrary to popular belief, they are not praying for us. The request made by the rich man in hell was a form of prayer to Abraham. But Abraham’s response was that those on the earth were to look to the word of God given to those on the earth. The rich man’s prayer in hell went unanswered. No saints in heaven are praying and interceding for the saints on the earth, for their time of labouring in prayer has ended and they are resting from those labours. The only person in heaven, who is praying for the saints on the earth is the Lord Jesus, for He always lives to make intercession for His saints (Hebrews 7:25). The saints on the earth are to pray to God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, and any prayer uttered to any saint that has gone to be with the Lord is a complete waste of time, for those prayers are not heard by God the Father.
Luke 15:7 “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
The above quoted passage of scripture reveals to us that those saints who have gone to be with the Lord, know when their family members are saved and they rejoice in heaven when that happens. Nevertheless, it is not only our salvation that causes joy among those in heaven, but also every spiritual milestone that we pass in our race set before us here on the earth.
Zephaniah 3:9 “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.”
As an aside, we can see from the above quoted passage of scripture that the saints all speak the same pure language in heaven. And so even though the saints in heaven understand and can speak all of the languages of the earth, those same languages are no longer spoken in heaven.
Michael E.B. Maher
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