A new order

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
We read in both the Old and New Testaments how God will create not only a new earth, but a new heaven also (Isa. 65:17, Rev. 21:1). He will make all things new and glorious, and He will dwell among His people forever. Satan and all that is wicked is cast into the lake of fire and erased from our memory. Everything is restored to harmony.
So, in the light of all this, what are the tears for, that God wipes away? Isaiah tells us that “the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind” (Isa. 65:17). The hardships, persecution, pain, suffering, etc. that we go through in this present life, will all be forgotten. Nor will we be mourning for lost opportunities, or for unsaved friends and family. Rather, these are tears of joy, at finally seeing the new heavens and the earth created for us to dwell in God’s presence forever; tears of gratitude, for all that He has done for us.
There’s a lot that must take place between now and then – the rapture of the Church, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, and the Millennium. But God shows us that He already knows the end result. And I get the feeling, that He is looking forward to that as much as, if not more than we are.