CAN MY DADDY SEE ME NOW?
Who is this “huge crowd of witnesses?” They are those who have already run life’s race “by faith” as Hebrews 11 has listed. They have already crossed life’s finished line and have now joined other believers, who the author of Hebrews here visualizes either metaphorically or literally, as now being spectators at an olympic-like race of faith. If he means it metaphorically, then it serves as a reminder and an encouragement that we are running a race that many faithful have run before us. They endured. They finished well. So can we.
Yet if he means it literally, it means that and more. How much departed believers are permitted to see of earthly life, if at all, is not clear in the Scriptures. But if taken literally, then they bear witness of our race of faith in some form or fashion.
When I was eight years old, my father died. I had two questions for our pastor when he came to talk with us. The first was, “Where is my daddy now?” His answer was clear and confident, “The Bible says ‘absent from the body, present with the Lord’ (2 Cor. 5:8). Your daddy trusted Christ. He is with Jesus now.”
Encouraged by his answer, I quickly asked my second question, “Can my daddy see me now?” He paused for a moment and with just as much confidence as before, he replied, “Well son, the Bible says that we’re surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who are watching us run life’s race. So I take that to mean that your daddy is able to see how you’re doing. How much he sees, I don’t know. But I think he sees you.”
Those two answers helped me as a little boy grieving the loss of my father. It still helps. Yet now, it’s the next verse that helps most. For the Bible says that we are to run life’s race by “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Jesus is the One that I know is watching over me and not only that, He is empowering me to persevere in this race called life.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that through Your Son the sting of death is removed. We are able to run life’s race with a confident faith and hope in You. We may grieve the loss of loved ones, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope. You are our hope. Give us strength to run for You this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.