“No More Tears,” A Promise From God

by Kevin Burton

   Look around you, if you can bear to. Look at the war, the pain, the strife, the death, the violence. What do you call these things?

   You could call them page one of your local newspaper. I love newspapers, always have. But there is better news to be found in the Bible, In Revelation 21:4. 

   That’s where God calls all those things, “former things.” Here’s what it looks like in the KVJ:

   “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.”

   Former things! What a promise. What a Promiser.

   I had a close-up look at my failures. That made Rev. 21:4 leap off the page today and lodge in that place inside where deep breaths are taken.

   “We live in a fallen world and not one of us is exempt from the difficulties and tragedies that stalk the path of every person that is born into this fallen race,” reads a passage on the Knowing Jesus website. “But through this beautiful truth, God is giving us a tiny glimpse into the eternal ages to come, when the old order is done away with, and God establishes a new heaven, and a new earth, under His perfect rule of law.”

   The Bible is filled with stories of God making promises and then keeping those promises. We see his faithfulness everywhere. Those stories affirm who God is.

   But now we’re looking at a promise meant for us, believers saved by the blood of Jesus, looking forward to a time and place we can’t quite fathom with our human minds.

   We’re talking about the day that death, dies.

   “The day is coming when the Lord Himself, will live with men – and they will be His people and He will be their God. This will be a day when all wrongs are put right. Joy will replace sorrow, and God Himself will dry every teardrop,” the website reads.

   “Jesus was despised and rejected when He came to earth as the sacrifice for sin. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with the same grief and agony that we often have to undergo. But He also faced the agony of the cross on our account, to gain the victory over sin and Satan, death and hell. What a blessed truth… that a day is coming where every tear will be dried by our precious Savior, because of His sacrifice… ‘and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain – for the first things have passed away.’”

   “Because of His sacrifice, we are promised that there will be no weeping in heaven, and death and destruction will be swallowed up in victory. Because of Christ’s offering of Himself, we are able to rise up into newness of life, where pain and sorrow will flee away – what a wonderful day that will be!”

   “A day is already set, in the council chambers of heaven, when God will wipe away all tears.  And that is a day that we will all witness,” the website reads. “But never forget that in this world of sickness and sin, hardship and pain we have a Savior, Who understands the gaping grief behind each welling tear-drop that blurs our vision today and cuts deep into the heart of our soul.”

   “Never forget that we have God’s indwelling Spirit of comfort, who is with us the moment each solitary tear-drop starts to dampen our lashes. Jesus came to heal the broken-hearted and set the captive free and His Holy Spirit understands – He knows, He loves, and He cares for each one of us. So draw closer to His arms of comfort, and trust in His love today, for a day is coming where there will no longer be any mourning, crying, or pain,” the website reads.

   When the newspaper tells you there is going to be a school board meeting, a basketball game, a concert, it gives the date and time and place. That’s good information because you don’t want to miss these events.

   But here we’re talking about the new heaven and the new earth.  You sure don’t want to miss that!  If you haven’t already, why not trust in Jesus Christ today? We end with a prayer from the website.

  “Father, I know You are the One that holds the future and I trust my life into Your hands today, knowing that You are with me in every trial and pain I am facing. I don’t understand, but I trust in Your loving-kindness and tender-mercies, which are new every morning – great is Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”