Tears are outlets felt inwardly. They are emotional expressions which will not be present in the Kingdom of God because there will be no situations that bring sadness.
In Rev 7:13 one of the elders answered, saying unto me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they?" The response given was ‘Sir, Thou knowest." Then then Elder said, "These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
According to Revelation 7:16,17 Those who will be redeemed shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes from their eyes."
Isn’t this a wonderful picture of the fulfilment of God’s promise? I love the final statement ‘God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes.’ This promise is made to those of us who are faithful followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Tears come through varied situations and today we will examine a few reasons for our tears.
There are tears of pity
While Jesus was on earth He openly wept in pity for the disobedient. In Luke 19 it is recorded that when He looked at Jerusalem He wept because He knew that Jerusalem would be destroyed because of the unrepentant heart of its inhabitants. Children of God presently weep because of the sinful state of this world. It is our responsibility to weep and mourn before God for those who are rejecting the plan of salvation.
There are tears of sympathy
We should sympathise with those who are experiencing sorrowful situations and sometimes our sympathy evokes tears. Lazarus was Jesus’ friend and when he died Jesus wept at his grave. We too will mourn at many graves especially when the death in our estimation was unnecessary.
There are tears of bereavement
We read in 2 Samuel 15-18 a record of a terrible disunity which occurred between David and his beloved son, Absalom. David’ authority was undermined by Absalom and this caused David great sorrow. During the turmoil between Absalom and David, Absalom lost his life. David wept bitterly for his son Absalom. He said "O my son Absalom; my son, my son Absalom; would God I had died for thee, O Absalom my son, my son!"
Despite the betrayal David still loved his son and did not want him to die.
Jesus spoke Rachel weeping for her children because they were no more:
Matthew 2:18 "In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."
When Herod the Great heard about the birth of Jesus he tried to get rid of the baby by ordering the death of all infants two years and under. When this atrocity took place there was much weeping and wailing. Today there are many parents who are weeping and who will be weeping for their children due to the challenges of life. As parents lose their children to the cold hands of death the only solace they can get is the confidence that they had trained their children well and that the children knew the Lord. I pray that every parent will teach their children the Gospel Truth so that they can obtain this comfort in the time of grief. Death is final no changes can be made.
There are the tears of the penitent
Luke 7:37 tells us about the woman who repented of her sinful habits and how she displayed her penitence by anointing Jesus with an expensive oil.
Luke 7:38 tells us how she stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
When you have met the Lord, your tears express godly sorrow for your sins.
Peter wept after he denied Jesus: Luke 22:62 says, ‘So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
When we have an understanding of the gospel and walk contrarily, our conscience is pricked and we are uncomfortable.
We shed tears of anxiety
As we look around us at the moral decay of the world we pray and beseech God and shed tears of anxiety for the saving of our family, friends, and wider society. It is the believer’s responsibility to warn and beseech persons just as Noah did. However just as in the days of Noah, persons are too busy living and doing as they desire and are not interested giving their lives to God. The Apostle Paul also had moments of anxiety as he cautioned the Church in Acts 20:31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
There are tears of sacrifice
Tears of sacrifice are shed by God’s children who suffer personal loss to the end that: the Church may go forward and the gospel may be preached in those regions where it has never been heard. Sacrifice is only acceptable when the offeror is living in obedience to the will of God. If you are willing to offer your life to the Lord as you pour out yourself to the Lord tears will flow. In this you are not alone many have had and are having similar experiences. Jesus wept in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was betrayed by Judas and His followers also shed tears as they sacrificed their entire being to the Lord.
Apostle Paul recounted his experiences as we read in Acts 20:18-19- And when they had come to him, he said to them: "Ye know, from the first day that I came to Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews.
If you are going through trying times hold on to Christ seek comfort from the Scriptures Psalm 126:5 reminds us that those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
God knows and cares when we shed a tear. Do not despair, always remember that sorrow is temporary: Psalm 30:5 reminds us weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Finally, the best of all -if we are true to God, our Heavenly Father, with a tender hand, “shall wipe away every tear from our eyes.”
Yes, there are many kinds of tears but if we accept salvation through Jesus Christ and live in obedience to the will of God when Jesus shall put an end to sin and death and hand over to His Father there shall be no shedding of tears in that Eternal City.
Writer - A. E. Fisher
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