Crying is a fact of life. Tears are a way to purge away the emotions that build up within our souls. Tears can be used to manipulate others into doing things our own way. We have heard of “crocodile tears” and “crying wolf”. These are not the kinds of tears and crying that I’m addressing. I’m talking about real tears that come forth because of true concern and caring for another’s welfare. With these kinds of tears comes a heaviness of heart. I’m sure we can all recall crying for someone else’s well being and safety at one time or another. I know I sure have. I will share one my experiences right now.

I have a son who enlisted in the Army National Guard when he was in high school. As a child he always loved to play with guns and wanted to be an army man. He fulfilled his childhood dream by training to be an M.P. Then he was called to go to Ramadi, Iraq on a year tour. Ramadi, I later found out is where most of the suicide bombers are from and so for them, life is worthless. It’s their religious beliefs that killing themselves along with others is honorable. My son was in the brigade that drove around looking for explosive devices. He would email me and assure me that he would be fine. For one reason, he was in the first truck and if anyone were to aim at them, they would time their shot after the first truck drove by. Well, this is not exactly comforting for a mother to hear. I prayed for a hedge of protection around this young man and his company daily. I knew he wasn’t saved and could not be endangered, he wasn’t ready. Then one day I got news that the first truck that he was normally in, was hit. His Lt. officer took his place that day and lost his life in front of my son. He immediately left his position in the second truck and ran amidst enemy fire to go to the aid of his fallen comrad.

While I was terribley thankful for God’s protection, I remember just crying for the terrible loss and the close call I had in losing my youngest son. As I already mentioned, he had not accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him without being saved in the blood of Christ. Is he saved now? I’m not totally sure, but if he’s not yet, I keep praying he will be. I had prayed that God would put him in a circumstance to show him how fragile life is and show him the importance of salvation. He hasn’t discussed it and I would never push it, but I can see God working it out in His time. I can only pray that his Lt. was saved.

Our salvation is the most important thing to our Lord. Why wouldn’t He cry over those who refuse to accept Him? Don’t you think He already knows their destination could be changed if only…they were willing? God has given us His truth of His goodness and mercy in allowing ALL who accept Christ to be His adopted children. We are heirs with Christ and will inherit all that God promised. We have eternal life once this one is over. The truth of the matter is that everyone will have eternal life somewhere. For anyone who chooses not to walk the straight and narrow path, they will spend eternity in a dark abode, we call hell. Jesus refered to this place as a gnashing and gnawing of teeth. It’s a painful place and once we have made a decision, our soul will either enter into heaven or hell. After that…ETERNITY! Our decisions today will result in our final outcome for the rest of all time. This is not something I would ever want to risk because of my own stubborness and unwilling behavior. I do believe I love myself enough to be guaranteed an eternal existence in heaven with Christ. My decision for Him brings a smile to His face, but there are a couple examples in God’s Word that we need to look at very carefully. God is dead serious about our choices. Is God smiling or crying for you today?

During His ministry, Jesus became very close friends with Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. They had listened to Him teaching about repentance and receiving eternal life with Him. They knew He was the Son of God. But then something happened on His way beyond the Jordan. News of Lazarus came to Jesus. Even though he was sick, Jesus waited two more days before He went back to Judea. He assured His disciples that Lazarus was asleep, not dead. But this was not the scenerio when He arrived. Both Martha and then Mary blamed Him for not being there in time. He asked them again if they believed that even though someone dies they would yet live. They answered Him by telling Him they believed He was the Christ, the Son of God, but still showed doubt. When Jesus came to the tomb He saw all the people weeping. This was a Jewish tradition for people to wail at a funeral. This showed Jesus their doubt in the power of the resurrection.

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was greatly moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept.” John 11:33-35

Jesus wasn’t merely moved in sorrow. He was outraged in anger by the emotional grief that revealed to Him their disbelief in the resurrection. Grief is understandable but these people were in great despair. Jesus may also have felt the deep pain of the consequences that sin has. Either way, being “deeply moved” in the Greek language is far greater than Him feeling just sympathy for them. Jesus wept over a fallen world of sin. It was this great sorrow that earned Him the title of “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Is.53:3) He wasn’t grieved for Lazarus because He would raise him for God’s glory. Does Jesus weep for your unredeemed soul today or does He smile because He knows you have resrurrection life in Him?

Jesus told the people of Jerusalem how sorry He was that they didn’t recognize Him. He wanted so much to protect them but they refused to run to Him. I can’t help but see this happening in our world today. The United States has the freedom to honor God by recognizing Christ, but so many people are running from Him. One day God will not be around to hear peoples’ cries for help. That is why His Word tells us to seek Him while He may be found. God wills us to come but we will not on our own accord. We do not know what is best for us, but our God does!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalm, you who continue to kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have desired to gather your children together (around Me), as a hen (gathers) her young under her wings, but you would not!” Luke 11:34 (Amplifed)

Now listen to the end results of their stubborn ways. Jesus foretold what the end would be like for anyone who refuses to accept Him. He is saying this to us still.

“Behold, your house is forsaken (abandoned, left to you destitute of God’s help!) And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you shall say, ‘Blessed (to be celebrated with praises) is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Luke 13:35 (Amplifed)

One day, all people…believers and unbelievers alike will bow and confess in the name of the Lord. God is going to show His Supremecy to everyone before He delivers His final judgment. That judgment depends on your decision. God, is a loving Father Who wishes that not one of His children perish…but His Word is final.

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18 (New American Standard version)

If you don’t want God to cry over you, just confess and repent of your sins to Him, ask Him to cleanse you and invite Jesus to live in your heart. Believe that Christ died and rose again to pay for your sins. If you have made Him Lord and Savior over your life then know He is not crying anymore! Give Him thanks and praise.

Everyone must choose~CHRIST or CONDEMNATION

Vivian Gordon writes articles pertaining to God’s
instructions and the examples He has given us in order
to grow on this Christian walk with Him. She hopes that
they can inspire the Christian to grow spiritualy and
maturely in their lives.