If we have turned our faces to the wall, like Hezekiah, and wept, it is good to know that God shall wipe away all tears. It is a precious mark of favour to have some experience of it now in this vale of tears. To have known the overwhelming peace of the Lord soothing our hearts as the Spirit applies the comforting Scriptures, is to have had a sweet foretaste of the joy to come.
It is a great help to us now, also, to know that the things which beleaguer us so incessantly shall finally cease to trouble us. We can manage victoriously a little longer, for we are taught by the Holy Spirit that these things can never again be repeated in that world which is to come. Then there will be no more possibility of sinning or of suffering its consequences.
Let us think of each thing which causes tears; especially those which are distressing us now. Let us set our hearts on that great personal moment when God shall wipe away those tears with such compassionate approval.
He has counted up our tears: He knows what caused every one. In that day all those things will be banished for ever.
Death causes tears. The human parting from loved ones is very grievous. We miss their touch, their voice, their love, their care, their reassurance, their protection, their companionship. The prospect of our own death causes tears, for we find it hard to part initially with the familiar ties of this life. The associations of death cause tears -- the accidents, pains, operations, losses of mind and movement. No more death is balm to weary souls.
Sorrow causes tears. As well as the sorrows associated with death there are sorrows of a godly nature over our sins. How we have grieved our God and Saviour in so many ways! There may be sorrows over the direction our lives have taken, allied with real regrets. No more sorrow is encouragement to repent of what has been accumulated so far.
The crying out and groaning in anguish causes tears. It may be that the physical pain is too hard to bear and we must give some vent to it: or the inner conflicts of mind or soul are still acute, though our faith in the Saviour is still strong. At all events, pain, anguish, groaning, crying out and tears are all inextricably intertwined in our experience. No more crying means the end is in sight and we can endure to the end. The pain of our life's work has caused us enough tears. It has helped us to long for Heaven where we know that there will be no pain but endless joy.