Dry Eyes

Revelation 21.4: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Contrary to much of the teaching of North American churches, Jesus did not die to make us happy. Jesus died to glorify His Father through the salvation of God's chosen people. Jesus and the apostles are unmistakably clear that those who follow Jesus will suffer - their lives will be filled with tears.

That is why Revelation 21.4 is so instructive and encouraging to the believer. A believer's earthly life will be filled with tears - we ought to expect death and mourning and crying and pain - that is the inevitable result of the Fall. Our lives, especially Christians, will be filled with a unique pain as we watch rebellion all around us - and experience it within us.

If there are tears in your life, that is part of the life God has called you to live. He promises to sustain you, comfort and help you but not take away the tears. Not yet.

When we pass from this life the first act of God we read in the new heaven and earth will be He will wipe every tear from their eyes. It is comforting that God's knows our tears here on earth and when we enter glory, he stoops, wipes and ushers you into unimaginable glory and pleasure and delight - into the very dwelling of God.

In this life, we will find our eyes moist - as we suffer personally and as we weep with those who weep. But praise God one day all results of sin will be done away with and God will give us dry eyes for all eternity.