Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Richard Baxter
No More Tears
In one of the most encouraging passages in the entire Bible, the Apostle John wrote that God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and 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). As a father and grandfather, I know a little bit about tears; wiping away the tears of my children and grandchildren, but also a few of my own, but what God wipes away, stays away! Think about that? All that God does is eternal, so those last tears will be wiped away forever, meaning the crying will be no more. Besides, there’ll be too much joy to cry because God will be with us and we will finally see Him as He is (1st John 3:2; Rev 21:3)!
No More Death
When I preside over funerals, I don’t think of the ground as burial ground, but as resurrection ground, because one day, those who have gone before us will be with us, and live with us, and for all eternity. My days of giving funerals will be over because I’ll be out of business, but I’m good with that. The end of death is truly significant. This temporary life today is preparing us for the life to come in the kingdom.
No More Mourning
When people mourn after the loss of a loved one, I wonder if the believer who’s died would want to come back. We might miss them after they’re gone, but they’re not really gone…they’re just not here! They are with the Lord, and what greater joy could there be than that!? Nothing can compare with being in the presence of the Lord. If we think about our future (Rev 21:1-4), then we can mourn, but still have hope.
No More Pain
When people mourn after the loss of a loved one, I wonder if the believer who’s died would want to come back. We might miss them after they’re gone, but they’re not really gone…they’re just not here! They are with the Lord, and what greater joy could there be than that!? Nothing can compare with being in the presence of the Lord. If we think about our future (Rev 21:1-4), then we can mourn, but still have hope.
It’s All History
When God puts our sins behind us, He doesn’t keep rubbing our noses in them. God is so good to take our sins away in Christ, but this is truly just the beginning. There is so much more to come for the child of God that it can hardly be described with words, but John tries in writing, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev 21:5), and “the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4b). I love history, but especially when I know I’ve been cleared of my past history; one filled with sin.
Conclusion
John Bunyan is right in describing that we are simply pilgrims, and this is not our world. We’re destined to enter into the Promised Land, and that is the direction we are headed, so Richard Baxter gives us the right perspective in saying, “This life was not intended to be the place of our perfection, but the preparation for it.”
