And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
It’s almost more than we can take in. The promise is big, but simple. There will be a day when we are united with our Lord in heaven, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
It says every tear for good reason, because we shed many tears for many different reasons. Think of some of the tears shed in the Bible. Tears of bereaved love, such as Mary and Martha (John 11:33) over the death of their brother. Tears of a mother over her deceased son (Luke 7:13). Perhaps you have cried when someone you love passed from this world to the next. One day in heaven, no more tears.
There are the tears of sympathy and mercy, such as tears Jesus and Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37, Jeremiah 9:1). Knowing the judgment to come on the holy city, neither Jesus nor Jeremiah could help weeping – they did not rejoice in coming judgment. It is likely that your own face has been stained with tears of sympathy and mercy over the suffering of someone you love. One day in heaven, no more tears,
There are many other kinds of tears. Tears of persecuted innocence, shed when the righteous suffer (Job 31:31). Tears of fear and uncertainty (Psalm 6:6). Tears of contrition and penitence for our sins (Psalm 39:11-13). Tears of disappointment and neglect (Psalm 42:3). You have probably wept many of these every tears. One day in heaven, no more tears. Whatever tears roll down the cheeks of mortals, in heaven they will be dried forever.
It’s not that our tears are all bad. God remembers them and cherishes them. In Psalm 56:8, David prayed, You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle. Perhaps some of us have bigger bottles in heaven, but God saves our tears.
The wonderful promise of Revelation 21:4 is The former things have passed away. The glory of heaven is distinguished by what it does not have – no tears, no sorrow, no death, no pain. This is a case where less is certainly more. We come into this earth with a cry. We leave it with a weak, feeble groan. In between there is a lot of helpless wailing. But the Hallelujahs of heaven will drown out the voice of sorrow forever.
Whatever pain you are going through, remember – this too shall pass. If you are in Jesus, trusting in His goodness and work on the cross for you, this is the worst it will ever be. Tragically, for those who reject Jesus and try to make their own way before God, this life – even with all its tears – is the best it will ever be.
Make sure that there are “no more tears” in your long-term future.
Click Here for David’s Written Commentary on Revelation 21
