Directly before this scripture in Revelation, verse 3 ends with, “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” I love that that’s the precursor before He wipes every tear from our eyes. Instead, that sentence could say that He will stop all the crying, which it goes on to say after, but first, God wipes away every tear that’s been shed. It’s that intentionality and closeness from God that sticks with me.
What an unbelievable promise and hope for the new order God will establish one day when Jesus comes back. Not only will He defeat and “swallow up death forever,” but He will be our dwelling and will remove everything that has hurt and weighed us down in this life.
As much as it makes me imagine what the new earth will be like, it makes me see that same God in my life right now. Even though we are still experiencing pain and heartache in our lives and in our world, I see a God who desires to come close to those places and bring healing. A God who takes even the greatest devastation and brings purpose out of it. A God who makes everything work for our ultimate good.
All His words and promises are trustworthy and true. In Him, we hold our hope.