GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

NO TEARS IN HEAVEN
Revelation 7:17

Don Fortner

There is never a time when my soul more rapturously anticipates and longs for the eternal bliss of heaven than when we gather, as we have this evening, around the Lord's Table. As we eat the bread and drink the wine, in remembrance of our blessed Savior, my heart beats rapidly in anticipation of that great day when we shall begin our eternal communion with Christ! So I thought that it might be comforting and helpful for us to meditate for a little while upon our eternal abode with Christ.

I am neither weary of life, nor weary of serving my Redeemer. The Lord has given me a much fuller and happier life in my years than most men ever have who live three times as long. And my heart, mind, and strength are more fully engaged in and zealous for the service of Christ than ever before. But, my heart is fixed on better things still. I long to live fully in the presence of Christ. I long to serve my Master perfectly, without sin. This I know, "to die is gain." And I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better."

What does heaven look like? Where is it? How big is heaven? What will we have when we get there? These are the questions about heaven, which interest carnal religionists. I hope they are not your primary concern. But still, our minds need some idea of heaven. We need to know something about it. So, I will make a few practical statements to describe our eternal home. I believe this much is clearly revealed in Scripture.

• Our Lord is There.


• All the Dead in Christ are There.


• The Angels of God are There.

• It is a place of Rest.


• It is a place of Peace.


• It is a place of Love.


• It is a place of Satisfaction.

3. But the Fulness, the Beauty, and the Glory of Heaven are things beyond the Scope of Human Understanding or Description. (II Cor. 12:4).

• Heaven is not a place of Carnal Sense.


• Heaven is not a place of Human Imagination.

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (I Cor. 2:9) – Your highest, noblest, grandest, most spiritual thoughts about heaven fall far short of its reality. "Beloved, it doth not yet appear what we shall be." (I John 3:2).

• Heaven is not a place of Human Intellect.

I do not know what the fulness of heaven shall be. And I will not try to dazzle you with the speculations of men. But of this one thing I am sure, there will be No Tears In Heaven. It is written, "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Here is one great, comforting fact about our eternal inheritance, there are no tears in heaven.

1. There is Much Weeping in the Way to Heaven.
2. Even now our Father does Much to Dry our Tears.
3. In Heaven God Will Remove All Tears From Our Eyes.
4. Will You Be In The Happy Company Of The Redeemed?

I. It is certainly implied by this text that – There Is Much Weeping In The Way To Heaven.

Faith in Christ brings deliverance from pain and trouble.

A. There Are Many Things Which Believers Suffer Along With Other Men.

1. Physical Pain and Sickness.
2. Financial Losses.
3. Bereavement.
4. Domestic Troubles.
5. Disappointments.

B. But There Are Many Things, Which Bring Tears To Our Eyes, Which The World Knows Nothing About.

1. Inward Sin.
2. Lack of Resignation.
3. Wounded, Injured Pride.
4. Unbelief.
5. Anger.
6. Rash Speech.
7. Coldness of Heart.
8. Depression.

C. There Are Ever Some Precious Tears Which We Shed Here, That Shall Be Dried On The Other Side Of Jordan.

1. Tears of Repentance.
2. Tears of Sympathy.
3. Tears of Concern.
4. Longings for His Presence.

II. Even Now Our Heavenly Father Does Much To Dry Our Tears.

The life of a believer is not a morbid life of sorrow, even here. The Lord graciously does much to comfort our hearts in the midst of our troubles. (Is. 43:1-6).

A. He gives us Resignation to His Will.
B. He gives us Faith in His Providence.
C. He reminds us of His Gracious Purpose.
D. He causes us to Remember His Promises.
E. He blesses us with His Presence – Communion.
F. He floods our Hearts with the knowledge of Christ's Love.
G. He removes the Cause of our Pain.
H. He causes our Hearts to be Fixed Upon the Things of Christ. (II Cor. 4:15-18).

III. But here is the message of our text – In Heaven God Will Remove All Tears From Our Eyes.

Heaven is a place of sure, eternal, and ever increasing bliss. And the source of that bliss is God himself.

A. It Strikes Me That If God Did Not Wipe Away All Tears From Our Eyes, There Would Be Much Weeping In Heaven.

1. Over past sins.
2. Over the unconverted ones left behind.
3. Over wasted opportunities.
4. Over the terrible price of our redemption.
5. Over our unkindness and lack of love to our brethren upon the earth.

B. But God Shall Wipe Away All Tears From Our Eyes.

1. He will remove every cause of outward grief.
2. He will remove us from all sin and all sin from us.
3. All fear of change shall be shut out.
4. Every desire of our hearts shall be gratified.

a. We will be like Christ.
b. We will see Christ.
c. We will love Christ perfectly.
d. We will serve Christ unceasingly.
e. We will worship Christ without sin.
f. We will know Christ perfectly.
g. We will rest in Christ completely.
h. We will have Christ entirely.
i. We will enjoy Christ fully.

IV. I am finished when I have pressed one very practical question upon your hearts – Will You Be Among The Happy Company Of The Redeemed?

A. Not Everyone Will Be Among The People of God In Heaven.
B. No One Deserves To Be With Christ In Heaven.
C. But Many Will Be There.

1. All who are washed in his blood.
2. All who are clothed with his righteousness.
3. All who love his name.
4. All who are chosen of God.
5. All who believe Christ.

Now, my brothers and sisters, as we break the bread and drink the wine, let us do so in remembrance of him, and in anticipation of that day when we shall be with him.

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