Question from a reader:

I've heard people say that "Grandma is in Heaven now, but she is looking down on us watching over us.”  Is it true that the deceased are in Heaven watching us?  That sounds a bit creepy.

Answer from Stephanie Anderson, EPM staff:

Here is what Randy Alcorn has written about this subject, and about why he thinks Scripture indicates that quite possibly those in Heaven do have at least some knowledge of what is presently happening on Earth, as God allows them to see. I’d encourage you to watch that video and read the article to get a biblical basis for the answer.  

I can see what you’re saying about that almost sounding creepy. But that certainly isn’t what Randy is conveying. Here is what else he has written that I hope might help:

I was not saying in the book, nor do I believe it to be true, that people now in Heaven see everything that is going on down on Earth. It’s that they see some things that God in His wisdom desires them to see. And of course, we don’t know which things, though we might guess.

Yes, they have the perspective that would keep them from being robbed of Heaven’s joy, but I get the feeling some people are worried that their loved ones are seeing anything and everything they do, which is not at all what I believe, nor what I intended the Heaven book to say. I think they see enough to keep in touch with our lives, but certainly not everything, as their main focus is where they are with Jesus.

Still, their connection with what’s going on here is significant because this is where God’s plan is being worked out. But we needn’t be unnerved or preoccupied by the idea of being spied on or eavesdropped on by our loved ones.