Tears

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

Water has always existed. It says nowhere that God created it. Genesis 1:1, 2 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” It even says in verse six that God separated the water from the waters and called it “sky.” Interesting isn’t it? I believe water is as sacred or holy as anything on the face of the earth. I think it’s not only essential for survival, I believe it’s the pathway whereby salvation comes.

Water was with God in the beginning, we know from the scripture noted above. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.


And then a little later in Genesis, God uses that same water to deliver Noah and his family to safety when Noah, in response to God’s commands, built the ark to deliver them from the flood.


And in Exodus, God delivered the Israelites from the hand of Pharaoh through the waters of the Red Sea. “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.”


And then in Mark 16:16 Jesus says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Peter in 1 Peter 3: 21, even connects the two waters together (the waters of the flood and the waters of baptism) when he says, “In [the ark] only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also”......


If I could draw circles to symbolize how water is used in the Bible, the sizes of the circles would get appreciably smaller each time I drew one. "Creation" water would be the largest, the flood would be next, then the waters of the Red Sea and then baptism. And then, I believe the smallest dimension of water God uses would come next – tears -- less than a thimble full.


The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears attentive to their cry. Ps. 34:15


He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Ps. 145:19


In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and [he] listened to my cry. Jonah 2:2


And then with regard to Jesus, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”


Mourning -- crying -- tears are ways man can “pour out his soul” to God. Listen to what David says in Psalm 42:1-4.


“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God, Where can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul:” …...


Isn’t that what we do when we mourn? We pour out our soul?


Matthew and Luke tell us about a sinful woman who came into Simon’s house to anoint Jesus with fine perfume. She stood behind Jesus at his feet weeping, wetting his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. She did this to prepare him for his burial.


The sinful woman represents the blessed in “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” Her attention is to his feet, where the student was a learner. She emptied herself of herself, not caring who saw her -- a beggar, the “poor in spirit” who make up the kingdom of heaven. She mourns over her sins and Jesus’ death. She is the mourner who waits to be comforted. And Jesus forgives her sins. “Your faith has saved you,” Jesus says. “Go in peace.” And she is comforted.


I believe we will see this woman again, in Heaven, in a land with no more tears, needing comfort no more.


“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself with be with them and be their God. 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.” Rev. 22: 3, 4


Blessed are those who mourn – who allow that tear – that thimble full of water -- to fall at the Savior’s feet -- just like this sinful woman -- for they will be comforted. They will enter Heaven, where the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flows from the throne of God. On each side of the river will stand the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:1-2) ----- where there will be no water for tears that need comforting, only water for trees that bring healing ----- in Paradise again.