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A Time to Weep

 
 
No Tears in Heaven
(Robert S. Arnold)

No tears in heaven no sorrows given
All will be glory in that land
There'll be no sadness all will be gladness
When we shall join that happy band.

No tears (in heaven fair) no tears (no tears up there)
Sorrow and pain will all have blown
No tears (in heaven fair) no tears (no tears up there)
No tears in heaven will be known.

Glory is waiting waiting up yonder
Where we shall spend an endless day
There with our Saviour we'll be forever
Where no more sorrow can dismay.

No tears (in heaven fair) no tears (no tears up there)
Sorrow and pain will all have blown
No tears (in heaven fair) no tears (no tears up there)
No tears in heaven will be known.
No tears in heaven will be known...

Everyone knew each other in small communities, and it was always a great sadness when someone passed on.  Almost everyone turned out for the funeral.  The little church house had no elaborate sound system to pipe peaceful music to those who had gathered.  Instead, a small group who hopefully could carry a tune was pulled from the crowd to act as the funeral choir.

This old hymn was always sung.  It reminded the mourners that there was hope of eternal life, and the copious tears they were shedding would someday be gone.  This song was probably a great comfort to many.  However,  I think Mr. Arnold was not totally accurate when writing his lyrics.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
 Revelation 21:4

In his book Heaven, writer Randy Alcorn says there will be tears.  "These are the tears of suffering over sin and death, the tears of oppressed people, the cries of the poor, the widow, the orphaned, the unborn, and the persecuted.  God will wipe away the tears of racial injustice. Such crying will be no more."

Some of us cry more for joy than sadness.  I thinking that if I cry when I stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon because it is so beautiful, will I not cry for joy when I see Jesus?  I cried for joy when I saw the Gee's Bend quilt exhibit, because these sweet quilters were finally getting some justice.  I cried for joy at the weddings of both my sons. There have been worship services where peace and love and goodness so overwhelmed me that it leaked out through my eyes.  Can you imagine not shedding tears of joy in heaven?

Comments

  1. lil red henApril 22, 2013 at 3:51 PM

    Never thought of it this way...but I do know it will be more glorious than we can imagine.

    ReplyDelete

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