29 June 2006

God will wipe away every tear because we are in Christ

What Does It Mean to Be “In Christ”? asks John Piper as part of his talk on Romans 12.1-8:
...we, though many, are one body in Christ... (Rom 12.5)
Piper's answer to this is breathtaking:
Everything that he is, and everything that he has that can be shared will be shared with you. And there is only one thing that can’t be shared—his deity, and its unique God-defining attributes (like omnipotence and omniscience and eternality). But everything else that Christ is and has is yours in him. (Piper)
How wonderful is God's kindness to us. How unspeakable.
For all things are yours, whether... the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. (1Cor 3.20-22)
How can I covet anything if I believe this to be true? If everything that Christ is and has is mine, how can I squander my thoughts and love by thinking about a new car I might buy, or some improvement I might make to my house, or how I might impress someone at work? How can I let myself become captive to thoughts of how I might win over some beautiful woman to myself?

Because I am in Christ, he will wipe away every tear from my eyes. When I meet him in heaven, he will hold me more tenderly than I could ever hold one of my sons. His heart will overflow with love for me, and he will reach out and wipe away the tears of finally fulfilled longing from my eyes.
[From the story of the prodigal son:] While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (Luke 15.20)
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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." (Rev 21.3-4)
What more could anyone ever want or ask for?