God Shall Wipe Away All Tears CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

The Bible records many episodes of crying and tears.  Jesus himself was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  In the days of Jesus’ ministry, “he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.”

When we think of the New Testament, we like to think of the “good” things of the Bible and the joy of the Holy Ghost.  But we mustn’t forget that its epistles are laced with tears.  Acts 20:31, Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  2 Cor 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

In the midst of all the good news we find the cheeks of men wet with their own tears.  Why?  Our text gives us four reasons for which we can find examples in the Bible –

Death – Hezekiah tears concerning his death – 2 Ki 20:5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

You remember your tears shed over death.

Sorrow – David’s grief and sorrow over his enemies – Ps 6:6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

Or Jeremiah’s grief over the captivity of Judah [he was known as the weeping prophet] Jer 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

You remember your tears shed in sorrow over the consequences of sin and over those who would destroy you.

Crying – the father of the demon possessed boy was crying for God to help his unbelief so that his boy could be healed – Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

You remember approaching the throne of grace in desperation and tears for God to answer your prayer.

Pain – Job – Job 16:20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

You remember your tears over excruciating pain.

But the strange thing about our text is the location of this promise that God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

It is after the new heaven and new earth and it is after the white throne judgment.  Why?

2 reasons: The Loss and The Lost

The Loss – this is the result of the judgment seat of Christ 1 Cor 3:11-15.  Crying over all the lost rewards for what could have been.  Be careful not to let all of the things down here that we seek for pleasure detract from the things we need to be doing for Christ that will survive the fire of this judgment.

The Lost – this is the result of watching Rev 20:15.  We will be at the white throne judgment 1 Cor 6:2.  All of our lost friends and relatives that have rejected Jesus will be cast into the lake of fire and we will “judge” them as deserving of that punishment.  There are some who will ask us, “Why didn’t you tell me?”  The tears will flow when we cannot answer them.

Paul’s zeal for the lost drove him to say “I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,” (Rom 9:3).  He had this zeal for the very ones who were trying to kill him.  We don’t have that kind of opposition; thus, we don’t have an excuse.  We must determine NOW that we will zealously seek to win those who are lost before we have to witness their tragic end.

God will be there to wipe away these tears – but how much better to cry now and rejoice later than to rejoice now and cry later!! Ps 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Conclusion: To the saints, prepare for the judgment seat of Christ and start witnessing to lost souls.  To the lost, get saved – we’ll cry and God shall wipe away our tears; you’ll cry and burn and the devil won’t wipe away anything (there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth).