No Tears In Heaven

“No Tears In Heaven!”

Revelation 21:1-4

David P. Nolte

Tears. They flow sometimes in grief, sometimes in pain, sometimes in regret, sometimes in sympathy, sometimes in weariness, sometimes in anger, sometimes in fear, sometimes in relief and sometimes in joy. But the day is coming for those who know Jesus when there will be no tears!

The song said, “Tears will never stain the streets of that city!” God’s word affirms that, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’” Revelation 21:1-4 (NASB).

My question this morning is, “why will there be no tears there?” The song gives a general answer, “Cause the heart will never break anymore.” Let’s expand on that.

THERE WILL BE NO TEARS IN HEAVEN BECAUSE:

I. THERE WILL BE NO MORE SORROW:

A. The text said, “no mourning or crying.”

1. The word for mourning means to lament or wail. It is strong and deep grief.

2. The word for cry means clamor, an uproar, a loud shout. Not gentle weeping, but gut wrenching outcry.

B. Many things of earth produce tears of sorrow.

1. The consequences of, and regret for, bad decisions.

2. The ruin and damage of sin and the repentance that is produced.

3. Mistreatment by others.

4. Broken relationships: broken friendships, failed marriages, family discord.

5. Separation

a. By geographic distances.

b. By death.

6. Sickness and age related ailments.

7. Anxiety and fear.

C. Those are earthborn and earth bound sorrows.

1. They won’t show up in heaven.

2. But even here we are not abandoned to our own resources – we have help bearing sorrow because “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3 (NASB). He knows, understands and cares!

3. And He has given us promises:

a. “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 (NASB).

b. “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NASB).

c. “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 (NASB).

4. And as the song said, “I’ve never met one man without sorrow; never looked into eyes with no pain. But there’s a land where grief is a total stranger, and joy is the only song they sing.”

D. While we don’t relish sorrow, let’s not waste it when it comes let’s not miss its benefits:

1. Endurance.

2. Humility.

3. Patience.

4. Sympathy / empathy.

5. Trust.

E. We may be like a man who, filled with sorrow, was walking along feeling rather glum and forlorn when he saw a little child come out of a yard. Just then the gate swung closed and fastened behind him. He wanted to go to his home behind the gate, but it would not open. He shouted in vain with his little voice. He yanked on the gate. Then he wailed as though his heart would break. The cry brought the mother. She caught the child in her arms and kissed away the tears. “Didn't you know I would come? It's all right now.” The boy quickly abandoned his sorrow and went joyfully back into the yard.

The Lord seemed to speak to the man’s heart to tell him that when the time came for him to enter Heaven’s gate, he would leave his sorrow behind.

THERE WILL BE NO TEARS IN HEAVEN BECAUSE THERE’S NO SORROW – AND

II. THERE WILL BE NO MORE PAIN:

A. The text affirms that: “there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.”

1. Pain: means anguish or distress.

2. This might be physical, mental, emotional, and / or spiritual pain.

B. The song said, “If I could count the tears that have fallen it would seem like an ocean to me. If my heart was a window you could look through, oh, the pain and scars you would see.”