TEARS

Have you ever shed tears you felt no one could dry? Tears of heartbreak, of worry, sadness, or grief. Maybe they were tears of bitter disappointment and you wished there was someone to fake all the tears and hurting away. Be of good courage, because there is. God will dry all tears in heaven. This promise is given twice in the book of Revelation. The Bible speaks much about tears:

It speaks of tears mixed with the prayers of Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:5; Paul wrote of "serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears" (Acts 20:19); and he also said, "that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears" (Acts 20:31). He corrected the deficiencies of the Corinthian Church "out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears" (2 Corinthians 2:4).

There was a Jewish custom in the first century of collecting tears in a bottle for use in certain ritual occassions, funerals and such occassions as that. Some have suggested that just such a tear bottle was used along with the tears shed by the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her own tears and dried them with her hair in Luke 7:38,44.

His response to her heart-broken tears is found in verse 44"And he turned to the waman and he said to Simon [his host], Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet [as was the custom]: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head".

At the funeral of Lazarus of Bethany, John records "Jesus wept" (John 11:35), as much for the unbelief of the throng as for his compassion for Lazarus, Mary and Martha. He wept at the unbelief of the entire city of Jerusalem in Luke 19:41-44.

There are countless reasons for tears. Some seeem to need no reasons, but the tears flow freely at nearly any opportunity. The One Who knows our hearts understands our tears. And the one who knows the tender compassion of the Lamb of God will find joy in heaven and no more tears (Revelation 7:17);

"And God shall wipe all tears from their eys; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, no crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

You may seek a new life to begin within your innermost being. You may long for another chance to please and honor God. You may long to be forgiven of your sin, but there is no peace, even though you plead through bitter tears. You have only to confess and forsake your sin before the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the gift of llife He has to offer you. He will, wipe your tears of contrition and give you peace unto your very soul.

This gift is for you but you must trust Him for it (Revelation 3:20-21) This promise of hope came from the book of Revelation (the Apocolypse). It contains more hope which can be yours in Jesus Christ.