Jay Cutler, NFL quarterback for the Chicago Bears, led his team as they played in the NFC Championship Game. If the Bears won against the hated Green Bay Packers, they would play in the Super Bowl. Cutler was tackled hard a few times during the first half, enough that he took himself out of the game. Some fans became furious when they saw what they thought was a healthy Cutler sitting on the bench. He didn’t appear to be cheering the team on. He simply stared blankly as the Bears lost.
Cutler’s appearance of stoic resignation is how I used to think of heaven: When I leave this earthly contest, I will go to my eternal rest where I’ll sleep a lot. But then I read John’s snapshot of heaven, where martyred saints are shouting to God, “How long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10). These saints aren’t resting, they’re actively praying!
Origen wrote that “all those fathers who have fallen asleep before us fight on our side and aid us by their prayers.” Gregory of Nazianzus said that his deceased father “accomplishes there now by his prayers more than he ever did by his teaching.” And Martin Luther told his friend that if he died first he must pull him to heaven by his prayers, “For we confess one God and with all saints we abide in our Savior.”
Luther was describing the communion of the saints—all Christians, whether dead or alive, remain connected in Jesus. We pray for them, asking God to give a special hug to our deceased loved ones. They pray for us, cheering us on from stands packed with a great cloud of witnesses. Death may have pushed them to the sideline, but they’re still in the game.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 12:1-11
More:
Read Hebrews 12:1-29 to learn how we remain connected to other Christians who have died.
Next:
How does it help to remember that we remain connected to those who have died in Christ? What message would you like Jesus to pass on to someone for you?
tlineham on August 28, 2013 at 1:22 am
Nice to be reminded that all believers, alive and dead are continuously linked to Jesus – no interruptions! But I do wonder about the comment, “We pray for them, asking God to give a special hug to our deceased loved ones.” Where in the Bible do we get taught that we pray for the dead?
Perhaps you mean that we give thanks to God for them, rather than pray for any special favors for them?
ehdlive on August 28, 2013 at 5:37 am
It’s comforting to know that life still goes on even after our temporary journey here on earth, and prayer-whether in the form of adoration or thanksgiving-never cease to exist.
tom felten on August 28, 2013 at 8:54 am
Mike, just had a family reunion. As I talked with some of our cousins, we remarked that more and more of our Aunts and Uncles are now part of that “huge crowd of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). It’s exciting and encouraging to know that believers in heaven are linked to us and pulling for us in Jesus!
mike wittmer on August 28, 2013 at 11:12 pm
tlineham: Great question. I have a friend, Don Van Ryn, who lost his college age daughter in a dreadful car accident (Google the book, “Mistaken Identity” to read their gripping story). Don said that he sometimes tells Jesus to give his girl a hug, and I can’t say that he is wrong. There is also the committal ceremony in the cemetary, when the pastor commits the body of the deceased into the hands of God. So I think we’re already doing this.