Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: No more crying

Are you (Spiritually) Alive?

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On October 3, 2016

In Christian

Dennis FernandesOn September 30th of the year of the Lord 2016, I had to bring the Lord’s message to the gieving family and friends of a dear dear friend of our family, in his memorial service. Dennis Fernandes (1979-2016) was a dear brother of mine and his tragic passing away by drowning in Lake Buchanan on September 24th was a heart wrenching experience. It was not until 48 hours later that the Texas Game Warden and his special ops team were able to recover his body. That evening, when I met my children, Reuben (10 years) and Ittai (4 years) and told them, “They found Dennis uncle”, their very first question was “Is he alive?” to which I with sorrow replied “No”, only to recognize quickly, how incorrect and wrong, I was. For Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” Then Jesus questioned “Believe thou this?” (John 11:25-26).

Dennis, our brother, is alive. He is spiritually alive, because he trusted and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, the destroyer of the devil who had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14) and who will eventually destroy the last enemy – death itself (1 Corinthians 15:26). Dennis was a child of God for he had received and believed in Jesus Christ (John 1:12). So though he is physically dead, yet he is spiritually alive and has merely a change of address, from earth, where sorrow and pain abounds, to heaven, where there is no more sorrow or pain – only the Joy of the Lord for eternity.

Like many of Dennis’ family and friends, Sangeetha, Reuben, Ittai and I miss Dennis and we weep, because we love him. Jesus wept (John 11:35) even though he knew that he would raise his friend, Lazarus from the dead. So our tears are only temporary for God himself will wipe away all tears from our 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).

Points to ponder:
It is only a matter of time, before we will join Dennis and our loved ones who have gone before us, for it is written, that it is appointed unto men to die once and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The judgment of God, where the verdict can only be one or the other – dead or alive? Spiritually dead or Spiritually alive? To all who have believed in Jesus as their Savior, King and Lord – the verdict would be Spiritually alive and to the others who willfully chose to reject him, their condition would be worse than physical death for they would die the second death – eternally separated from God. The question that then ought to be answered is: Are you (Spiritually) alive?

John 11:25-26 (KJV)
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Revelation 21:3-5 (KJV)
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 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.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Oh Esau, Oh Esau, what tears does thou cry?

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On May 18, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The famous song by Eric Clapton, “Tears in Heaven” was written by Clapton to express the pain he felt following the death of his four year old son, Conor, who fell from a window of the 53rd floor New York apartment of his mother’s friend on March 20, 1991. This song, along with the Gaither’s song featuring James Blackwood, “No Tears in Heaven”, resonates a very important Biblical truth that God would wipe away every tear in heaven and there shall be no more crying or mourning in heaven, for there shall be no more pain and all things will be made new (Revelation 21:4). Now hold that thought.

Upon the realization that Isaac had been tricked into blessing Jacob his younger son, instead of Esau his firstborn favorite son, Isaac trembled very exceedingly (Genesis 27:33), while Esau cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, asking his father to bless him also.

Esau sought the blessing of his father but did not demonstrate a godly life. He had despised his spiritually provided birthright for gratifying his sensual desires of his flesh (Genesis 25:29-34). He had chosen to marry not one but two pagan (Hittite) women (Genesis 26:34-35). Instead, as was customary at that time, Esau should have submitted to his parents, who should have sought a godly wife from their own people, as Abraham did (Genesis 24), so that the woman he marries, who would not turn him away from serving God (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Now in retrospect, we find, the ungodly Esau who chose to live his life the way he wanted, weeping with a great and exceedingly bitter tears – tears of regret and not necessarily of repentance; tears of pang and not necessarily of penitence – for the Bible says that he then chose (again the ungodly) to wait for a time (when his father would pass away) and murder his brother Jacob, who had deceived him of his blessings from Isaac.

Points to ponder:
When we seek and live ungodly lives, willfully despising the spiritual birthright for satisfying our sensual and fleshly desires (pride of life, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh), we have no inheritance in the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:8-10). When we chose to live an adulterous life by wedding the pagan world and its pleasures, we are in enmity with God (James 4:4) and we cannot expect to be blessed in all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), that comes about by believing in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son as our Savior. Should we chose to reject the blessings of God in Christ Jesus, pain and tears, exceedingly bitter tears, is what is in store for us, just as was expressed by Esau.

And if you and I are to introspect our life today and find ourselves to be like Esau, ungodly and unrighteous, let us cry now the tears of repentance so that we would not have to cry later the tears of regret. There will be no tears in heaven for God himself shall wipe away our tears when we are in his presence. Oh you, oh you, what tears does thou cry (now)?

Genesis 27:34 (KJV)
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

Christian Verbs :: C is for Crying

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On July 14, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

In the Bible, the word ‘crying’ is used in many contexts, ranging from the expression of a hurting emotion; to earnestly beseeching; to proclaiming and so on, but let us focus on three specific instances apropos what the Bible teaches us about ‘crying’. The first one is about two blind men who followed Jesus, crying for Jesus to have mercy on them (Matthew 9:27). The second is about a prophet, the greatest of all who is said to be the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way of The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), Jesus Christ, challenging  all to repentance (Mark 1:3). The third is the account of a time frame where there shall be perpetual crying (Matthew 22:13) or no more crying (Revelation 21:4).

From the blind men, we learn a few important lessons. First is that the blind men followed Jesus.  Ever wondered how they would have done that? See blind men follow only those who can lead them safely. Have you ever seen a blind man following another blind man? Secondly, the blind men were crying, not necessarily for Jesus to restore their physical sight but for Jesus’ mercy, which on the onset may even seem absurd. They were asking for the right thing from God, which was for spiritual restoration (for his mercy) and we learn from the account that they were doubly restored, spiritually and physically. There are many with perfect physical eyesight that are blind today; for the god of this world has blinded the minds of many lest the glorious light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shine on them (2 Corinthians 4:4). They are crying out to be restored; they are crying out for mercy. Those who are lost (unbelievers) are crying.

From John the Baptist, the voice in the wilderness, we learn that those who have believed and seen the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the only one who can lead us safely to God, must also cry. The cry of the saved (believers) should be a cry, that beckons to prepare the way of the Lord, calling for repentance and showcasing the glorious light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on to those who are crying for His mercy. If you are a believer, what is your cry?

We have learned from the scripture that sinners cry, and that the saints are to cry as well. We also learn that there will come a time when there will either be perpetual crying or no more crying for some.  Those who do not believe in Jesus (who are not clothed with righteous robes that is imputed when they believe in Jesus) will be cast out from the presence of God, where there will be crying (weeping) and gnashing of teeth, and eternal torment (Matthew 22:13). Those who believe that Jesus is the Only begotten Son of God, who took our punishment upon himself and became the sacrifice acceptable to God, dying on the Cross and who rose conquering the grave and death, can expectantly yearn for the time when God will wipe away all tears from their eyes  and there shall be no more death (only life), neither sorrow (only joy), nor crying (only laughter), neither shall there be any pain (only pleasure). The eternal future glory far supersedes any ephemeral present suffering.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. If you have never believed in Jesus, this is the time for your to cry out for His mercy to restore you to God! Tarry not!
  2. If you have believed in Jesus, are we hearing the cries of those who are crying for a Savior to have mercy on them and are we crying out, declaring the glorious light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What is our cry, today?
  3. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Those who reject Jesus will eternally weep (with gnashing of teeth) and those who accept him may cry now but will eternally be filled with life, joy, laughter and pleasure in His presence. Choose ye this day, if you want to cry or laugh in the time to come!

Matthew 9:27 (KJV)
27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

Mark 1:3 (KJV)
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Matthew 22:11-13 (KJV)
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Revelation 21:4 (KJV)
4 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.

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