Isaiah 25:8b The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces…

I think we all eagerly anticipate the day when these words Isaiah wrote will be here. And this promise is repeated in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 7:17 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 21:4 “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.”

We long for that time when our tears to be gone.

In his Easter sermon this year, my pastor shared this quote from J.R.R. Tolkien: “The birth, death and resurrection of Jesus means that one day everything sad will come untrue.” My initial reaction when I saw those words on the screen was discomfort. Did I read and hear that correctly? How can the terrible things that caused our sadness “come untrue?”

During Lent, Cheryl and I had the earthly lives of six people special to us come to an end, including a little girl who was just over a year old and my niece who was mother to a five-month-old daughter. We grieve with our family and friends over these things and long for the tears to be gone. Will these things “come untrue?”

I know people who have suffered devastating losses in their lives: financial ruin, a marriage that falls apart, friendships ended, houses burned to the ground, life-altering injuries. And I have had my share of sadness as well. Will these “come untrue?”

Perhaps it is an issue of our perspective. We look at things from the only vantage point we know, which is life in this world. But what will it look like when we are with our Lord in His glory, when we enter into His presence for eternity?  That is, after all, what He promised. That is what Jesus accomplished through his birth and life and death and resurrection. That is the goal of our faith, the promised reward. How will the things that caused our sadness look when we see Jesus face to face?

Consider parents being reunited with a child that died in the faith before them. Try to imagine the overwhelming joy of being with the white-robed throng singing praises before the Lamb on His throne. No more death or mourning or crying or pain of any kind. The new heaven and new earth. Upon reflection, I understand why Tolkien said what he did and find myself in agreement with him. I had just never heard it put that way before or expressed in those words. But it is beautiful description of what God promised and fulfilled for us in Christ.

I look forward to always seeing things from that perspective. And I will try to do so more and more while I am on this side of heaven. Consider the added meaning to the following Scripture passages from this perspective.

John 16:33 “ In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.