FOR TUESDAY TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING: Revelation 21:1-5
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”(Revelation 21:4); Common English Bible)
What a moving image is painted for us in this verse! God will wipe away any tears, death will cease and no more shall there be mourning, crying, or pain. Such a message is so longed for, especially in our community who will be gathering to love and support the family and friends of a young man who was tragically killed in a car accident this weekend.
Yet, notice that this promise is not only that God will wipe away the tears that will linger on our cheeks after our own losses. Goad will also reach back through time to wipe away all the pained tears ever shed. God will not just comfort us and help us to forget the bad things that came our way, but God will redeem all creation so that “the former things” will have passed away.
The tears that God must wipe away are not only the tears we shed, but also the tears we cause. God has come not only to ease our personal woes but to engage us in a life journey which will bring hope and healing to our broken world.
Prayer: God of all comfort and consolation, I lift up all who are hurting this day and all who are in harm’s way around the world. Help me to live in such a way that the tears of others will be no more. Amen.
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