Will we cry in heaven? People ask me that question sometimes. A popular song called “Thank You for Giving to the Lord,” has a line that says: “I know up in heaven you’re not supposed to cry, but I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes... as Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord. He said, ‘My child look around you for great is your reward.’”
What will heaven be like? John offers one of the great portraits of heaven in these verses. Ultimately, heaven is not just about us going up to God but about God coming down to us. The world as we know it, earth and sky will be transformed into a new earth with a new sky. The Holy City, the new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven from God as a bride dressed for her husband.
Once again, John heard the voice saying, “God’s dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them.” Heaven is a place of perfect relationships. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were banished from God’s presence. Here we see God choosing to live with people again. God wipes away every tear from our eyes. No more death. No more mourning or crying or pain. What a promise from God.
At the end of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien has Samwise Gamgee say, “Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue? What's happened to the world?" ‘A great Shadow has departed,’ said Gandalf, and then he laughed and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count.”
Someday, everything sad will indeed come untrue. The shadow of death will depart and the light of life will fill the earth. God will wipe the tears from our eyes and we will laugh the laughter of love and life. May it be soon.
