“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 ESV).

John heard a voice from the throne of heaven make this promise to the Bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem come down, which is the Church. Most of us remember our mothers wiping away our tears and gently replacing them with a kiss of her lips and a whispered comfort in our ears. The Lord will do this for His children, yet not only wiping away their tears, but actually taking away the death and pain which caused them. The former things will pass away. The sinfulness of humanity which brought suffering and death into God’s creation will be no more. “Behold!” The One seated on the throne declares, “I am making all things new!”

As you look back on this past year and look forward to the new, meditate on these things. Let Jesus wipe away your tears and whisper life in your ears.