If there are no tears in heaven, then what about our memories of those who did not make it?
Question:
If there are no tears in heaven, does this mean one will not be sad if their closest family and friends were not believers and not in heaven? What about those same people whom we did not share the gospel with -- some because we were not converted then, others because of family disputes? It grieves me that I did not make an effort to preach the gospel to them. Some of them were preached to by others that I know, and they rejected it, but regardless, I do not believe they were believers and they will be separated from our God for eternity. How can I not be sad about that? How can God not be sad about that? Doesn't the Bible say He is?
Answer:
"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" (Revelation 21:4).
Read the verse carefully. It says there will be no more sorrow because the causes of sorrow will be removed. Nothing is said about past sorrows, but I think even those will fade in the glory of heaven. In the judgment, we will see that God was fair, just, and merciful to all. It will be clear that those who end up in hell really did deserve to be there and that they got there by their own choices. It will be sad knowing that it didn't have to be that way, but every person not in heaven will not be there because of their own choices. "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!" " (Ezekiel 18:30-32).
