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A land with no tears, nor sorrow, nor pain

There are things that make me cry — like a kidney stone that I had last year. But I am not talking about physical pain that can bring tears.

No, I am talking about the pain that comes to all of us in our human condition. This pain comes to us because we live in a world that is imperfect and fraught with possibilities of life changing events, events that can bring tears.

There are many life experiences that can bring pain and tears such as a sudden death, a broken relationship, an illness or accident that is life changing, an injustice that shakes us to the core and touches our hearts, plus learning of acts of hatred and violence such as children who have been abused or are starving.

We are surrounded by daily happenings that sadden us and often cause us to cry out, “Oh, God, help us!” or “Why, God?”

Why, God, have you placed us in a world of such beauty and delight, but also a world full of tears? It is my belief that an answer comes from the Bible in the book of James. James 1:2 tells us that we are going to face many trials, but we are to “count” them “all joy” (NKJV).

Years ago, in the slums of London, there lived a poor man and woman who had only one child, a son. They made great sacrifices for their son. He was educated and graduated with honors. He was employed at a major chemical plant as a chemist. He made a good salary, and because of that, he was able to build a new home for his parents, moving them out of the slums.

Everything was rosy until one day an explosion at the chemical plant took their beloved son from them. Their dreams were shattered, and in a moment in time they had to face the reality of the death of a loved one.

Yes, the world is full of tears. How do we face a world of hurt and pain and “count it all joy” as James suggests?

We can do it because we believe a time is coming when we will live in a land where all tears are wiped away.

In the Gospel of John 14:1 we read, “Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms….I go to prepare a place for you …. I will come again and will take you with me” (ESV).

The place John refers to we call heaven, a land of no tears. It is a land that is perfect, a home that is permanent, a place with no death, no pain, no sorrow and no crying.

Everyone has access to this land of no tears simply by accepting the free gift of salvation. John 3:16-17 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (NIV).

Pastor Gary R. Messinger, Cedar Run Baptist Church

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