There seem to be two different sets of tears. One set is the various kinds of human tears, and the other is the various kinds of heavenly tears.
Only those with hardened hearts do not shed tears of some kind, at least occasionally.
Some of the human types of tears are, for example, tears of physical pain, tears of loneliness, tears of frustration and bitterness, tears of grief and regret, and tears of sorrow.
Heavenly tears, on the other hand, are, for example, tears of devotion, tears of gratefulness and thankfulness, tears of deep compassion, tears of awe, tears of joy, and sometimes, this side of the Rapture, tears of sorrow like the ones Jesus shed looking upon Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Matthew 23:37-39 “And when He drew near the city, He wept over it.”
It is my experience that tears, at times, can be a type of indicator of a believer’s growth as a Christian. I mean, and I am speaking to believers here, think about what made you cry before you knowingly became born again compared to what makes you cry after a few years or a lot of years walking with the Lord.
Recently, I was lying awake in bed most of the night pondering the connection between two scripture verses and their effect on these two different sets of tears, especially in regard to “heavenly tears.”
The two verses are these: “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it” (Proverbs 9:10 and Philippians 1:6).
If fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, what does more mature wisdom look like after the passage of time?
I thought about that and about how I hope I have changed in ways pleasing to Him who began a good work in me many years ago.
As these two thoughts began to intertwine, I began to see how my tears over the years have shifted from the human kind to tears heavenly in nature, and I began to see how tears can be a kind of indication of where we are at, so to speak, in regard to maturing in wisdom and to beholding how we are coming along in the good work He began in us.
I realized that the fear of the Lord, which was the beginning of wisdom, has changed in me over time into pure awe, trust, and thankfulness, as well as a burning desire that God’s Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This certainly was not the case before I turned to Jesus and He began a good work in me.
My tears reflect the good work my Lord and Savior has been doing in me, and I suspect the same is true for all who really do love Jesus and are truly born again.
Before I turned to Jesus for salvation, I don’t recall shedding too many heavenly tears and not very many human tears either. I am older now and much more in tune with God’s amazing love, and as a result, I weep more often. Beautiful heavenly tears.
There is a heavenly “well of tears” where the tears of deep compassion, the tears of devotion, the tears of gratefulness and thankfulness, tears of awe and tears of joy, and yes, even tears of sorrow spring forth from.
The tears of sorrow mixed with the tears of compassion are the kind we weep over those who are suffering and those who are lost. When I see suffering as a result of natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, or floods, for example, things that can bring tragic human loss and sorrows of all kinds, I often find tears running down my cheeks. When I see decent, hardworking people suffering at the hands of the wicked or believers being persecuted or even killed for their faith, the tears sometimes begin to roll in a steady stream.
For believers, there are just more of these kinds of tears in the last days before the Rapture, as wickedness of all kinds has infested the entire planet Earth. Devastating natural and man-made disasters are in the news pretty much every day as well.
One of the things the Lord instills in believers as He goes about completing a good work in us is “The Heart of God.” Being that it is not God’s will that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), we as believers are brought over time by the Holy Spirit into attunement with His awesome mercy and compassion, and like Him, we weep for the lost. We know firsthand about the amazing grace, forgiveness, and love they are missing out on, as well as what awaits them should they continue to choose to remain lost by willfully rejecting Jesus, the only one capable of saving and restoring them (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12).
Jesus shed tears for the lost when He wept over Jerusalem. If Jesus wept for the lost, I can only be grateful that He has instilled in me a heart to weep for the lost also (Luke 19:41; Matthew 23:37-39).
We all have loved ones and dear friends who are lost, and if they only knew how many prayers have been said and how many tears have been shed, and how many miracles have been requested on their behalf.
As long as we have breath, we should continue daily with these prayers, be reminded of the thief on the cross next to Jesus who got saved at the end of the last day of his life, and not give up hope no matter how many more tears well up from the fountain of His mercy. If our prayers are not answered on this side of the Rapture, there is an excellent possibility that they will be answered on the other side and that our dear friends and loved ones will be part of the great multitude that is saved during the Tribulation (Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 20:4).
In Matthew 24:12, Jesus speaking of the end times, said, “Because of people breaking the law and sin being everywhere, the love in the hearts of many will become cold.”
It makes me weep thankful tears just to know my Precious Jesus has softened my once-hardened heart. I do not want anything to do with a hardened heart. A blessing and a gift are these heavenly tears.
I wonder if other believers are also weeping heavenly tears. It is in no way a sign of weakness to admit that we weep heavenly tears of sorrow mixed with compassion quite a bit more these days than ever before.
With all of the ungodliness and the onslaught of predatory wickedness that is going on all over the world and in my home country of America in these end times, I find myself quite often being moved to tears, and yet at the same time, these tears do not disturb the peace that surpasses all understanding that Jesus has placed deep inside my heart, which in itself is amazing and supernatural (Philippians 4:7). Knowing God is in control makes the difference, even while you weep heavenly tears.
It is true that fear of the Lord is only the beginning of wisdom. The realization that our Creator is All-Powerful in every way. Jesus said to not fear what men can do to you, but rather fear Him who has power over life and power over death and power over our eternal destiny (Matthew 10:28).
As time goes by in our walk with Jesus and we realize more and more just who He really is, the original fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom becomes trust. We began to understand how much He loves us and that the perfect love of Jesus casts out all fear and replaces it with perfect trust. We can now declare with confidence, “If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31). Our Heavenly Creator is wonderful beyond our wildest imagination, inspiring tears of awe.
His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). His thoughts and His ways are not just higher than ours but also much better than ours. His ways are a tremendous blessing to all.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One and One and One is Three. Three as close as One can be. All on the same page and in perfect agreement, and yet each with unique characteristics. It is truly beautiful, wonderful, and supernatural. Only because of the Holy Spirit within us, leading and revealing to us the truth in all things, can we even begin to comprehend such a thing.
When He begins a good work in each of us, He starts the work of transforming us, building our faith, and teaching us through His Word (the Bible), through worship, prayer and fellowship, through everyday conversations with Him, and sometimes through dreams and visions, and yes, even through the gift of tears.
The years pass by, and the next thing you know, your life totally revolves around the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You now trust in God Almighty, the Holy One of Israel, with all of your heart. You have read the Bible all the way through and studied the Word of God that you have come to love. You began to understand that referring to God as awesome is not a religious cliché but rather something you’ve come to know is absolutely 100% accurate.
God is able to declare the end from the beginning because He really can do that, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, you come to realize and know that this is truth, and that inspires more tears of thankfulness and tears of complete awe (Isaiah 46:10).
You know all future Bible prophecy will be fulfilled because you have seen how all Bible prophecy has been perfectly fulfilled up to this present time here at the end of the church age.
We are watching and anticipating the swiftly-approaching day of our Blessed Hope when the Lord calls home the dead in Christ and the remnant church (Titus 2:13).
In the more distant future, but not too far distant future, all tears and sorrows will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4). Meanwhile, here on this side of Eternity, it is not abnormal or unnatural to shed tears of joy or tears of sorrow moved by a heart filled with compassion, just as Jesus did.
Lord, thank you for the blessed tears of gratefulness and thankfulness and for the compassionate tears combined with constant prayer for all who are hurting and all who are lost. Thank you for inspiring each of us to do what we can to share the good news of Salvation by Grace and of the Rapture, which is our Blessed Hope. Thank you for your promise to us of spending Eternity in your Holy presence, with new incorruptible bodies that never age or get sick or are tempted by sin.
Our Heavenly Father sometimes gives us a glimpse of how much He loves us all, and the heavenly tears that flow when this happens are the most beautiful tears of pure wonder.
We watch with joyous anticipation for our Blessed Hope, and yet we wait with great patience for our Lord to save every last possible soul that will hear His call and be saved.
Anyone who has read these words and has not turned to Jesus as Lord and Savior, please do so today. If you believe in and trust in Him and allow Him to begin a good work in you, He will be faithful to complete it. Jesus will save you, wash away your every last sin, give you the gift of salvation and eternal life, and be your best friend starting today and lasting for all Eternity.
All praise, honor, and glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the spirit of awe and gratefulness.
Your friend in Him who has Risen, King Jesus, King of Kings,
Rick Segoine
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Please feel free to visit ricksegoine.net for free downloads of my book From God to Eternity or to order a paperback copy, as well as downloads of original gospel songs and story songs also free of cost.