Birthday Celebrations.

Weddings.

Funerals.

What do these things have in common?

Maybe we wonder:  DO these three events have ANYTHING in common?

Yes.

Yes, each one of these events are an important part of a believer’s walk with God.

We live in a world where some think that a believer, a follower of Christ, a Christian is some type of “super-human” who possesses the ability to overcome all distress, all worry, all illness, all strains, all loss, all despair—all of everything that could ever possibly come.

We cannot.  We (believers) are mere human beings.

We cannot.  We (followers of Christ) bleed red blood just as the unbelievers.

We cannot.  We (Christians) walk through the life just the same as those who don’t yet believe.

We cannot.  Yet we know the ONE who can.

We cannot.  Yet we know the GOD of the universe.

We cannot.  Yet we are held tight by the MASTER.

We cannot.  Yet we walk in an intimate relationship with our SAVIOR.

We cannot, but JESUS CAN!!!

We cannot, but GOD DOES!!!

We cannot, but GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT SUSTAINS!!!

Consider for a moment the day a baby is born into this world.  Tears come.

Both the one being born & the ones birthing the baby cry tears.

Consider for a moment the day someone marries.  Tears come.

Both the one entering the new union & the ones giving away the one cry tears.

Consider for a moment the day a dear loved one is taken from this world.  Tears come.

Both the one experiencing the loss & the ones surrounding the person grieving cry tears.

Birthday Celebrations & Weddings & Funerals are indeed the important seasons of life.

That is not to say that the other events of our lives are not important, but for today, pause to consider these three seasons & the tears that come with each one.

Tears of JOY.

Tears of JOY & HOPE.

Tears of SORROW & LOSS.

Tears leak from the corners of our eyes & Tears streak down our cheeks.

What does God do with all our tears?

We wipe them away on our shirt sleeve and tissues.

But what does God do with the tears?

The Bible is so beautifully clear.  God knows His creation.  God knows us.  God knows us—even before we are His, even while we are still caught in our sin, separated from Him.

God always knows us—Hallelujah!  Once we have chosen to believe, accept, and belong to Him.

God knows us—forevermore, while we walk this earth and when we are caught up with Him in paradise.

God knows about our tears while we journey here on earth.

This day, I want us to walk through two passages that reveal specific ways God displays His beautiful care over us, during our times of joy, celebration, & even during our times of despair.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,  “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death;  there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said,  “Behold, I am making all things new.”  And He said,  “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Then He said to me,  “It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

(Revelation 21: 1-7)

Ryan Stevenson sings a beautiful melody titled “When we fall Apart.”  Listen today if time allows.

“It’s okay to cry/

It’s okay to fall apart/

You don’t have to try, to be strong when you are not/

And it may take some time to make sense of all your thoughts/

But don’t ever fight your tears ’cause there’s freedom in every drop/

Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart is when we fall apart.”

What do these things have in common?

• Birthday Celebrations.
• Weddings.
• Funerals.

DO these three events have ANYTHING in common?  Yes. Each one of these events are an important part of a believer’s walk with God because within each event comes the care of the Father.  Within each one comes the overcoming power of Almighty God.  Within each one comes the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.

God will never leave us once we are His!

These words are faithful and true!

Write them down!

Dwell upon them day and night!

Jesus loves me; Jesus loves you; yes He does!

For the Bible tells us so!

Maybe today we are hurting.

Maybe today we are rejoicing.

Maybe today we are encased deep within the sorrow of loss.

Maybe today we are singing songs of happiness.

Whatever “maybe” we are ever experiencing—God cares for His own.

Whatever “maybe” we are walking through—God walks with us.

Whatever “maybe” we are singing praises of joy—God knows our everything.

Whatever—God is collecting our tears.

We know because God said,

“Behold, I am making all things new.  Write, for these words are faithful and true.  “It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.  He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

(Revelation 21: 5-7)

God takes our tears, wipes them away from our eyes and collects them.

God will empty our tears into His bottle forevermore.

God displays His beautiful care over us.

“You have taken account of my wanderings;

Put my tears in Your bottle.

Are they not in Your book?”

(Psalm 56: 8)