REVELATION 21:1-5 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.”

THEME OF THE DAY. EVERY ONE WILL BE WIPED AWAY. Tears. We have and are going to shed a lot of them on the road to heaven. On that road, we won’t see an easy path lined with flowers and cheering crowds. We will endure loneliness, sadness, sorrow, grief and many tears. There will be tears over lost loved ones, tears over prodigal children, tears over the deaths of family members, tears over relationships gone sour, tears over the state of the nation, tears over expectations not met, tears over our sin, and tears over disappointments in life. And that list is only a start in the lives of every human being, even every Christian. But . . . and the word “but” is a big deal word in the scripture. As we read our Bibles, pay attention to the times this wonderful transition word takes us from “gloom and doom” to heights of joy and encouragement. Here are two to ponder . . .

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. BUT now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it (Romans 3:19-21).

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. BUT God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:1-5).

In both of those references, the simple word “but” removes the bad news all before it. And the bad news is our sinful alienation from God. “But” takes us into the marvels of His love and grace reconciling us to Himself. And in like fashion, allow me to add a “but” to the reality of our shedding many tears on the road to heaven. Yes, they will be many. Yes, they will cover a lot of territory of suffering. Yes, we cannot be without them, BUT . . . two things are certain about our tears.

First, God is going to wipe them away forever. He will be the Great Comforter and “Divine Dryer” of all those suffering tears we shed. Amen. Next, we will never shed another sorrowful tear. Gone. Forever. No more. And that is worthy of another “amen.” Tears now but not for long. Rest in this sure hope.

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for that certain hope when You will wipe my tears away and suffering is gone.”

QUOTE: “This side of heaven many tears will be shed and in heaven every one will be wiped away.”