Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.” vs. 8
Isaiah 25:8-9
Sometimes when death comes to a loved one, particularly after a long and painful illness, we’re surprised to feel an almost guilty sense of relief that the struggle is over. A burden has been lifted. Only later do the tears come. At other times, when death comes abruptly, the sense of shock brings with it an almost immediate gushing forth of tears. The loss is unfathomable–we may wonder if life will ever be the same. The common element in those experiences is the weeping–the natural response of humans to the presence of death. It’s what caught Isaiah’s attention as he lived in Jerusalem so long ago. In his time so far as we can tell, the notion of resurrection was pretty much unknown. But he did believe that one day God would wipe away all tears and that death would be no more, and followers of Jesus are more than willing to give an “Amen” to his vision. We too confess and are glad to affirm that one day all things will be brought to completion in Christ, and that death will be no more. That’s why, when death does take a loved one, we gather in tears as communities of faith and dare to sing hymns of joy and praise. And sooner or later, even in the present, the most stubborn tears will be wiped away!
Thought for the Day: What are my most stubborn tears?
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