“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.”
C. Pain is inevitable and pain can work in us negatively or positively:
1. Negatively:
a. We blame God. “Why did You let ....?”
b. We wallow in self-pity. “Woe is me! I am in dire straits!”
c. We become grouchy and difficult.
d. We become pessimistic. Nothing is ever right.
e. We lose hope. Nothing will ever be right!
2. Positively:
a. We can decide to trust God in deeper ways.
b. We can learn sympathy for others in pain.
c. We can learn ways to be sweet and patient.
d. We can choose to be optimistic.
e. It is a time to develop fullness of hope.
D. Paul’s example should inspire us to more valiant endurance of pain:
1. Speaking of his painful experiences, he said that, compared to his opponents, he was “in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?” 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NASB). Paul knew about pain!
2. And when afflicted, “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NASB).
E. A man whose wife had endured severe pain for years commented after her death, “When Frances went to be with the Lord, people remarked how well I handled it. My answer was that when I knew she was terminally ill, I said to the Lord, ‘Fifty-seven and a half years ago you gave her to me. Now I am giving her back to you. Do with her as you will.’ I found peace in the will of God.
This did not mean that I did not want to keep her. Oh no! But if keeping her meant ever-growing pain for her in order to satisfy my own selfish desires, no! I loved her too much for that.
Grief is natural. I know, for I have grieved—and continue to do so. But my grief is for myself. I know Frances is far better off with the Lord, but I am left behind and lonely.”
THERE WILL BE NO TEARS IN HEAVEN BECAUSE THERE’S NO SORROW – AND NO PAIN – AND BEST OF ALL:
III. GOD HIMSELF WILL BE THERE:
A. “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.”
B. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.” Psalm 139:7-10 (NASB).
C. People seek joy, pleasure and fulfillment in many unfulfilling ways:
1. Pleasure in physical, sensuous gratification.
2. Pleasure in material things.
3. Pleasure in various amusements.
4. Pleasure even in evil pursuits.
D. But what a great anticipation and genuine pleasure we should hold because as David wrote, “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11 (NASB).
E. A young boy became a Christian and was baptized. His uncle wanted to test his understanding and commitment. He asked, “Now, Billy, what would you do if Jesus asked you to give up your new bike?” Billy replied, “Well, if Jesus asked me to, I would.” Uncle Jim continued, “And if He asked you to go to Africa as a missionary, what would you say?” “Why, I’d say I’ll go!” said Billy. Finally Uncle Jim asked, “And, Billy, what if Jesus would lead you into Hell?” Billy replied, “That’s easy! There is no hell where Jesus is!”
And there are no tears where Jesus is which we will discover when we get to heaven! I’m not talking “pie-in-the-sky-bye-and-bye!” I’m talking about real hope – assured confidence – for those who make Jesus Lord of life, turn from sin, are baptized into Christ for sin’s forgiveness, and who remain faithful unto death.
PRAYER
Eternity is coming – the choice is darkness and weeping or light and joy. You get to choose, and what you do about Jesus determines which you will experience. I encourage you to take Jesus today so your bye and bye will be sweet!!
