January 04, 2023 – Wednesday
Revelation 21:4 NIV
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Comments
When my Father’s older brother James Edgar died his wife, my Aunt Hazel, passed his Bible on to me. I was reminded of this when I came across the above verse on a blog, FreeRepublic.com I follow from time to time. It was in reply to a member who had lost a friend of 40 years, not to death, but a radical change in values. Another member, a friend, replied with the above verse and told how in heaven he would have friends for eternity, and they would love one another.
This brought back the memory of opening Uncle Edgar’s Bible and finding Psalm 125:5-6 circled. The Bible opened to this page as if it had been opened to that page a great many times. The two verses read as follows in the KJV, Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. I often imagined him weeping as he read those verses thinking of his oldest daughter Shirley who died seemingly young at 47, December 12, 1998. She and I grew up together, had birthdays one day apart. We saw each other and each other’s siblings often until we became teenagers, as our parents would often visit, and we were only three years apart in age. She left her parents two wonderful granddaughters, Diana and Trisha.
I looked and my Uncle did not have Revelation 21:4 circled or underlined. I don’t know why, but I believe if he had read it after her death, it would have offered much solace, especially as he would have read it in context as follows. This is John speaking/writing, 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Nonetheless, I imagine my Uncle Edgar and my cousin Shirley in heaven rejoicing with each other and many other loved family members who also decided to follow Jesus. Among them her mother, my Aunt Hazel. Then there are my parents as well Claude and Louise. Trying to imagine the joy they have in heaven is difficult while still living here, but it is something I truly look forward to experiencing.
Bottom Line: We have an incredible future, an eternal future, to look forward to with not only Jesus, but with the loved ones we know and have known here in this short life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, As we live through our trials and tribulations here, help us to keep our hearts and minds always aware of the great reward that awaits us with You, Your Son – our Savior, and the Holy Spirit, along with so many loved ones we will see again. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek