No More Tears
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:4
Read Revelation 21:4-8
Tears express the emotions experienced in the heart. They speak a language
without using words. There is, of course, such a thing as crocodile
tears, which are usually shed out of self-pity and are therefore worthless.
But tears that are shed because of sin and its consequences—tears shed due
to a broken heart—are gathered in God’s bottle (Psalm 56).
Undoubtedly you know of situations in your life that have caused you to
shed tears. God will dry all tears from His people’s eyes. The original Greek
states this in the singular, therefore in a much stronger way: Every tear will
be wiped away. Does this mean that a symptom is being addressed? Not
at all! Rather, the underlying cause of death, sorrow and trouble is taken
away. What a perspective! Have you ever thought to yourself: How is this
possible? This can only be understood in light of the finished work of Christ.
Through His obedience, which led to the cross, He not only bore the punishment
due to sin, but also God’s wrath against it so it too has been silenced.
The rich fruit of this fact will be fully revealed and become the portion of
everyone who truly belongs to Him. They have learned to call and to turn
to Him with a broken heart. All the pain and sorrow experienced due to
sin leaves a painful trail in our lives. But He who sits upon the throne shall
make all things new. Bygone sorrows will be turned into joy. This fact is
certain; let this be your comfort today! Let this truth give you strength to
carry your sorrows. He who is the Alpha is also the Omega; He shall finish
the work He has begun in His people’s lives. What a glorious future to look
forward to, even if we now can only see it through tears of sorrow.
Thought: God does not gather selfish tears into His bottle.
Psalter 184:1,4,8 (based on Psalm 69)
Save me, O God, because the floods Come in upon my soul;
I sink in depths where none can stand, Deep waters o’er me roll.
O God, my folly and my sin Thy holy eye can see;
Yet save from shame, Lord God of Hosts, Thy saints that wait on Thee.
I wept, with fasting bowed my soul, Yet that was made my shame;
When I in sackcloth clothed myself, Their byword I became.