And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;

..... there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is detestable or deceitful, only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:4, 27). The context of course,  is the new heaven and new earth, the former having passed away (verse 1).  I hear people saying that they believe that heaven and hell are here on this earth.  And there's a sense in which the here and now is a pale,  inadequate glimpse of  two greater realities.  Consider earth  without sorrow,  death, pain, detestable things, without the cowardly, the  unbelieving, without murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all  liars (verses 4, 8, 27). And consider earth with only these things,  excluding even the fleeting  pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25).

But let's be clear, the reality of heaven far more glorious, and the reality of hell far more terrifying (see Revelation 6:16). Some say a loving God would not send someone to hell for eternity for a short lifetime of sin. And actually God does not send anyone to hell, for as many as choose to received Him, to put their trust in Him, He gives the right to be His children, and to pass from death to life (John 1:12; 5:24). A decision to not take advantage of His offer of salvation is a choice, procrastination is a choice. Banking on a death bed conversion, over which you may have no control,  is a choice. The waters of salvation are freely offered. And Jesus stretches His arms out on the cross essentially declaring “You will go to hell only by going round my dead body” which He offered for the life of the world (John 6:51).

Hell was not prepared for mankind, it was prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).  God did not send His Son, the Lamb of God (John 1:29),  into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. The one who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe (rejects faith) is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:17, 18).  The real question is, “is it all about me, or all about Him?”  The Kingdom is all about dying to out own selfish desires, which are essentially all about us demanding to be the centre of the universe! If there were any of this in heaven it wouldn't be heaven. And becoming a Christian is about becoming like the One who gave everything so that we could live.  

Lord Jesus I don't pretend that this life's not hard, nor do I pretend it's fair. The greatest injustice however was You the perfect and  innocent Lamb of God crucified.  Thank You Lord for the promise to work all things together for good for those who choose to love You.  A big part of that is that You are making us more and more like You, and making us fruitful for the Kingdom (Romans 8:28, 29).  Life is hard Lord, but I choose this morning to greatly rejoice in You for You have clothed me with a robe of righteousness. Thank You that You will wipe away all tears and that we will be with You forever. We pray these things in Your precious Name Amen