Serving God Night And Day

They stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7:15-17

“WHAT DO YOU think about a presidential candidate who is a draft dodger?” the reporter asked the World War II vet. She knew he was proud of his time in the service, and she expected him to denounce anyone who would avoid serving his or her country.

But the old man’s answer surprised her.

“I can’t say I entirely blame anyone not wanting to be in a war,” he said. “Sometimes it’s necessary, and I’d serve again if I needed to. But the horrors of war stay with you your whole life.”

In this Scripture passage John describes his vision of the future. The pronoun in this Scripture refers to those who endured the horrors of the Great Tribulation and died for their faith. But John also learned that no matter what horrors they experienced, God would wipe the tears from their eyes.

This is not just a promise for the future or for martyrs. The compassionate God we will see face-to-face in Christ has the same compassion for us as we walk on earth. No matter what horrors, pain, or disappointment we encounter, his caring is unlimited. As we turn to him, he will wipe away the tears from our eyes—not just in our heavenly future but in the here and now.