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“AND GOD WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR”

Revelation 7:9-17



There are many circumstances in our lives which are extremely difficult to cope with. Whoever said that God never gives us more than we can handle has never fully read the Scriptures. There are several examples of faithful people who still caved in under the pressures of tribulation. That is not to say that they lost their faith; nevertheless, the heartache which they experienced brought them low.

King David says in the one of the Psalms, “I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping,” (Ps. 6:6). Job states in the midst of his suffering, that even his friends scorned him; “my eye pours out tears to God,” he says (Job 16:20). Even our Lord wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus.

And today in our first reading, we hear the apostle Paul say—not once, but twice—how he shed tears in the midst of the challenges he faced concerning the preaching of the Gospel.

We do our best to put on our bravest smile in front of our fellow Christians. We don’t want anyone to think that we are weak people—people lacking in sufficient faith. And we also do our best to reach out to others in the midst of their suffering, seeking to do all that we can to bring them hope and comfort in their time of sorrow.

But, the bottom line is that there are some tears that you and I aren’t capable of wiping away—be it the tears of loved ones or even our own tears. And that’s why we derive such great comfort from the words of today’s text, where we have the promise that, one day, the Lord Himself, “will wipe away every tear from our eyes.” That is the precious assurance that all of us have been given.

It is difficult for us to comprehend fully the greatness of that promise. One day, we will all be in a place where, “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away,” (Rev. 21:4). What makes that incredible description so difficult to grasp is that we really have nothing to compare it to in this lifetime. Even our most joyful moments here on earth completely pale in comparison to what it is going to be like for us in heaven.

What’s more, none of us can see heaven at the present time. It is a matter of faith. Unlike those who are already there by the grace of God, we still walk by faith—not by sight. Instead, what we see are those people who are so important to us. And we have a very difficult time thinking of ever letting go of those treasured relationships. Once again, the very thought of that separation may bring us to tears.

Once again, we know by our Lord’s own tears that such sorrow is not a sin; rather, it is an expression of love and compassion. But we also have the consolation from God’s Word which says, “[we do not want you to] grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep,” (1 Thess. 4:13)

We do have hope—even in the midst of our tears. It is the hope of the resurrection. It is a hope made possible by the fact that all of our sins have been forgiven us.

I can’t tell you well enough as to how important that truth really is; especially when faced with the kind of tribulations and sorrows that following in the footsteps of Christ will bring to us. We are called upon the bear the cross—just as our Savior did. God will bring us into the kingdom along a path of self-denial. And, because the devil will always try to trick us into thinking that the hardships that we endure are God’s payback for the sins that we have committed, we can easily be led into despair. It can lead us to question the very basis of our salvation. For, if we fear that we are still being punished for our sins, what certainty could we possibly have of winning the ultimate prize—heaven itself—if we are still reaping the consequences for what our sins deserve?

Well, the good news is that long before any of us ever appeared here on earth to commit a transgression, the whole matter of our sin was already dealt with. God sent His Son Jesus to suffer the punishment for all of our guilt.

“He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all,” (Is. 53:5,6).”

Christ became the sacrificial lamb Who took the place of all us wandering sheep. The Good Shepherd became like one of us; and, in doing so, He laid down His life for the sheep—and all was forgiven—all. So that, even death itself is no longer something to be feared, as though it was God’s revenge for our guilt. No, Christ conquered even death so that, whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

“I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Dearly beloved, you are part of that great, innumerable multitude! You are the ones who will be clothed in the white robes, standing before the throne of the Lamb—standing in those robes washed clean in the blood of the Lamb.

It is a matter of faithful perseverance on our parts—clinging to this promise of God even when our eyes can’t see the full outcome of our faith—even when our eyes are clouded with the tears of tribulation. Do not fear. Do not despair. Do not doubt the voice of the Shepherd Who has so faithfully tended to all of your needs in the past and will most certainly uphold you in the days that lie ahead so that no one will be able to snatch you out of His hand.

A rest is coming from all of our labors. No more sin. No more sickness. No more worry. No more fear. “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”



Acts 20:17–35

17Now from Miletus [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”



Revelation 7:9–17

9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”



John 10:22–30

22At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”