Week 38
Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
When John was given the rich privilege of seeing into heaven, he was impressed by how God treated His people. John writes in this passage that in heaven the Lord God of heaven and earth personally, powerfully, decidedly, sweetly, and tenderly wipes away every tear from their eyes.
One way to describe the earthly journey of God’s people is a PATH OF TEARS. There is so much that harms, wounds, and destroys here in this vale of pain and sorrow. John says that when God wipes away tears from the eyes of His beloved people, it means that there is no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, and no more pain. All these hurtful things have passed away. Why? John writes that “the former things have passed away.” Everything has changed, and all is GOOD.
Is it not astounding that God does not pass to an angel the task of wiping away our tears? No, God Himself will see to this blessed work. His omnipotent and loving finger will wipe these tears away. We will in that hour be filled with such love for our glorious God and Savior. Our hearts will beat with gratitude for His grace and goodness. In that moment we will perhaps look back and see that this rugged landscape of earth, a place that robbed us so often of joy and comfort, was a place where God was working in our lives to bring about His glory and our good. When we saw no pattern or purpose in our sickness and suffering, God worked His perfect plan for our eternal good. This is the nature and meaning of providence in the lives of God’s people. We will not often see the picture and the point of our hardship in this life, but in the life to come in heaven, we will see it all. We will see God’s merciful care and God’s wisdom fulfilled in our journey.
So, let us trust in the God who one day will wipe away our tears. Let us rest in Him now and always for His leadership, support, and blessing. For every tear that falls here on earth will be a tear that our precious and sovereign God will wipe away. Thanks be to God for His mercy and promise.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your blessed wonderful promises to us who know You in Christ. Thank You for the joy, the holiness, and the love that we will experience with You in heaven. And thank You for one day wiping away all our earthly tears with Your love and compassion. On that day we will know that it was worth it all. We love You!