OUR FINAL TEARS

OUR FINAL TEARS (Advent 1, Tuesday) Zech. 12:10 ““And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” We have no time table for when The Last Day will come. Still, Holy Scripture gives glimpses of how our risen Lord will return. He will come as He visibly ascended into heaven—riding the clouds of glory. Tears will stream from our eyes. Everyone will see Jesus—those who never believed his message along with us who rejoice in His saving blood. Those who did not believe in Him will weep in sadness; hell’s punishment awaits. We—His redeemed--will weep with joy when He shows us our salvation face to face. He’s already assured us of it when drowning our old Adam in Baptism’s waters and rebirthing us to sit with Him in heavenly joy. He hides us in His love so that we, through faith, fix our longing eyes on His pierced hands and side. Though our every sin drove nails into His hands and feet, Jesus holds out His saving wounds to us in triumph. Though we failed to love our neighbor as ourselves, Jesus loved us so much that He shouldered our sins’ weight to his death. In heaven, He will wipe away our tears. As we long to see His splendor, we sing our amens with praising joy. Prayer. Lord Jesus, turn us each day to Your cross, that we may lament over our sinful condition and eagerly await Your glorious return. Amen.