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The Ministry of Tears

By the bottle-full or the bowl-full

Tears. Tears. Tears. Why so many tears? Why can’t everything be laughter and joy? Even when our own tears are not flowing, we know others whose cheeks are never dry. It is easy to explain a smile, but how do we explain a tear? I’ve heard a tear is made up of salt and lime and other component parts, but such an explanation falls short of expressing the emotion that actually produces the word. Tear (produced when crying) and tear (to pull apart) are spelled the same. There are tears of sorrow, tears of grief, tears of repentance, tears of embarrassment, tears of agony, tears of pain, tears of joy, and so on the list goes. Through the decades many songs have been written about the purpose of tears.

I remember as a child, often when I cried with self-pity or anger my father would bring a bottle and, with a twinkle in his eye, tell me to cry the bottle full of tears. It was many years before I realized that the phrase, “crying a bottle full of tears,” actually came from the Psalms (58:6).

The Tears of David–A Bottle-Full

David’s tears flowed freely on numerous occasions. He was sorry for his transgressions against God’s law, and he repented with tears. Often he writes in the Psalms, I cried unto the Lord…(Psa. 3:4; 31:22; 34:4; 77:1; 120:1). He was an emotional man! On one occasion, he writes to the Lord: “Tell my wanderings; Put my TEARS into your bottle” (Psa. 56.8). He knew that God paid attention to every detail. Often it is the ministry of our tears to give an outward demonstration of our inner dependence upon God. Without Him, I am nothing.

The People’s Tears of Repentance–A Bowl-Full

A psalm of Asaph asks: “O Lord God Almighty, how long will you be angry against the Prayers of your people? You have fed them with the bread of their tears. You have made them drink TEARS by the bowlful” (Psa. 80:4-5). God’s people had turned away from following after Him and ended up having to live without His provisions. Now aware of what had happened to them, they cried out to Him who is faithful to deliver! Often it is the ministry of tears to confirm our repentance and set us on the right road.

The Sowing of Tears. Reap Joy

Those who have experienced the Lord’s deliverance now pray for the restoration of others. The desire to see friends and loved ones come into the fullness of the Christian life brings forth tears. Those tears touch the very heart of God. “They that sow in TEARS shall reap in joy. He that goes forth weeping will return rejoicing bringing sheaves with him” (Psa. 126:5-6). Are you praying with tears for those you want to experience salvation and a change of heart and life-style? Then this scripture is your promise for the ministry of those tears.

The Tears of Jeremiah–A Fountain of Tears

The prophet Jeremiah experienced intense grief over the sin of his people. He cried out, “Oh that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of TEARS. I would weep day and night for the slain of my people. If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people.…” (Jer. 9:1-1). You can almost see Jeremiah’s swollen eyes and tear-stained face. How many times have you cried for someone who was enslaved by sin and just couldn’t seem to get free?

The Sinner Woman’s Tears–Repentance and Love

The whole town knew that Jesus was at the Pharisee’s house. A woman, who was known as a sinner, came to see Him, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears (Luke 7:37-38) —maybe the tears she had kept in a tear bottle. Great was her love for Jesus. Jesus preached a sermon to the Pharisees which were angry that He allowed the woman to touch Him (7:39). Jesus said, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house, you gain me no water for my feet; but she has washed my feet with TEARS, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. You gave me no kiss, but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss my feet You did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet. Wherefore, I say unto you , her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much” (Luke 7:45-50).

Jesus knows whether our tears are real or self-pity. He knows the condition of our heart. Tears of repentance wash away the bitterness, pain, and grief caused by a life of sin and abuse and invite Jesus to come and fill the void.

The Tears of Paul–Tears of Humility

The Apostle Paul was not at all embarrassed about his tears. In fact, he makes a point of mentioning them. Sensing that he may be near execution and unable to make another missionary journey, Paul called the Ephesian Church Leaders to meet him in Miletus and admonished them to watch over the church. He reminded them, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia I served the Lord with great humility and with TEARS” (Acts 20:17-31).

To the Church at Corinth, Paul wrote: “For I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many TEARS, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you” (2 Cor. 2:4).

The Tears of Timothy–Memories

Obviously Paul was quite moved by Timothy’s tears when he wrote to him: “Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy” (2 Tim. 1:4). We don’t really know whether these tears were simply tears shed when Paul and Timothy had to part ways, or just some experiences they had together in church services and other situations. These tears were important enough for Paul to mention them.

The Tears of Jesus

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they didn’t “know the time of their visitation” (Luke 19:41). He had come, but they hadn’t really seen Him for Who He was. The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, had called for Jesus to come, but when He arrived Lazarus had already been dead four days. In Hebrew tradition they believed that after three days the spirit left the body, so the situation seemed to be impossible. Nevertheless, the master spoke, and Lazarus came forth! I’ve often wondered if Jesus wept when He arrived there because we are to “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15).

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and TEARS to the one who could save Him from death and He was heard because of His reverent submission” (Heb. 5:7).

Warning–God is not Moved by All Tears

Said of Esau, but a warning to all those who sell their birthright: “Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears” (Heb. 12:17). For those who reject the Lord on earth, Jesus says: “…and angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the righteous, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt.13:49-50). Those tears will be eternal fountains of gushing waters of despair and agony. Tears that come too late.

The Final Tears

Apparently in our eternal home, there will be no need for the ministry of tears. It was prophesied by Isaiah: “The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken!” (Isaiah 25:8). And repeated in Revelation: “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17).

There is quite a controversy going on in some circles as to whether tears will reach that eternal shore. It isn’t clear here whether the tears will be wiped away as we cross the Great Divide, or after we are there. What is clear is that God will wipe away ALL tears of those who reach their heavenly home for those tears will have served their purpose on earth.

yvonnekarl@gmail.com

🎶No Tears in Heaven

No tears in heaven, no sorrows given
All will be glory in that land
There’ll be no sadness all will be gladness
When we shall join that happy band.

No tears (in heaven bear) no tears (no tears up there)
Sorrow and pain will all have gone
No tears (in heaven bear) no tears (no tears up there)
No tears in heaven will be known.

Glory is waiting, waiting up yonder
Where we shall spend an endless day
There with our Savior we’ll be forever
Where no more sorrow can dismay.

Lyrics by Robert Arnold

JOY in my heart!

Life with my Daddy.

Zachariah 4:10 – Do not despise small beginnings…

Daddy was born at home in a “holler” in Roane County WV on St. Patrick’s Day 1915, the 6th of 8 children, into a “Hard Shell Baptist” church family. His mother died from pneumonia at age 33 and his dad married a 17yr old girl named Fanny to help care for his younger children. The family moved in and out of town and school attendance was only occasional, nevertheless Daddy managed to finish 5th grade and learned to read the bible and memorize scripture.

When Daddy was a teenager, he attended tent meetings held by a Christian Baptist Evangelist, A.W. Baldridge, who believed God had called Daddy to preach, ordained him, and had him preaching at the tent meetings. Before long, Daddy got a job in a small town as janitor at Nitro High School and there he met my Methodist mother. She accompanied him to the meetings which she enjoyed and sometimes played her Hawaiian guitar. In the middle of her senior year, Daddy convinced her to marry him. It was 1937. She was 17, and he was 21. Soon, he got a full-time job at American Viscose, and I was born three years later, June 9, 1940. When I was two years old, in September 1942, my mother gave birth to a baby boy that they named Charles Ray. He only lived 19 hours as a result of Rh Factor problem.

Also in the early 1940’s, Evangelist Earl Hissom came to Nitro and held meetings. When not out preaching in the country, Daddy and Mother attended his services and got acquainted with the Hissoms—even had them over for Sunday dinner on several occasions. Eventually, however, it was Daddy’s sister and brother-in-law, Sylvia and Joe Leshon, who encouraged them to attend the Church of God (Anderson) in Nitro that had been started earlier by the Pauley Sisters – Sidney and Delsie. From then on, when Daddy was not out preaching, the family attended the Nitro Church.

During my first five years, my parents were youth directors at the Nitro Church of God. Mother loved to direct the seasonal plays and after practice the characters were treated to a popsicle from Valley Bell. When Pastor Harvey Burchett resigned in 1947 to take a pastoral position in Toledo, Ohio, his daughter Joyce stayed with us in Nitro to finish her senior year of high school. That was fun for me. I had a baby sister, Virginia, born in April 1945, but I now also had a big sister Joyce. When Joyce graduated and went to Toledo, I was very sad. She married soon after high school and later named one of her daughter’s “Yvonne” after me. I felt so loved. Many years later, I took my husband to Toledo to spend some time reminiscing with Joyce.

Off and on, daddy still went to preach out in the country, and our family always went along. Church service was different in the country and my first 10 years were the most impactful years of my life. I was surrounded by godly country people, joyful church services, and lots of testimonies about the goodness of God. I especially enjoyed hearing the shouting as my daddy preached. The words of many of the hymns were sealed in my memory during those years.

As a child, at home the popular Egermeiers Bible Story book was read aloud every night. At age eight, with my child-like faith and daddy by my side, I made the decision to follow Jesus. Three years later at age 11, I confirmed that decision when we gathered with others for baptism at Coal River just outside St. Albans. My little sister, who was six years old at the time, still remembered that the top layer of ice had to be cracked on the Coal River that November day. Among others, my two friends, Gloria and Shirley Dobbs and I were baptized by our Dads, with our arms wrapped around each other.

Times were different in those days and it didn’t bother me that my daddy’s grammar was really, really bad, and obviously it didn’t bother those congregations either. I just knew that people loved to hear him preach out in the country churches where he was often invited to hold “revival meetings” that lasted two or three weeks. The churches were packed and in warm weather, church windows would be open so people could stand outside and look in at the services. There were no microphones, nor were there fans—except those occasionally given by a funeral home. Sometimes we would have to stay till midnight for someone to “pray through.” I remember some of the saints praying long for a man at Alum Creek. At midnight, he finally put his pack of cigarettes on the altar and those who remained joined in the shouting. He was saved! I loved the country churches!

When Daddy wasn’t serving as interim pastor or otherwise preaching on a Sunday, we attended church in town and participated regularly. Daddy had no education beyond fifth grade and no theological training. One time he was interrogated by some Church of God ministers who had been asked to consider ordaining him in the CHOG, but it didn’t happen as there were several negatives. Daddy couldn’t answer questions about the millennial reign or other doctrinal issues. He was a simple man who stuck with the simple things of the bible: “You must be born again! You must follow Jesus to end up in heaven.” The second issue was that my parents did not handle their finances well, which was no doubt their main weakness over the years. Surprisingly, ordination was not important to the country churches, and they continued to invite Daddy to preach.

My sister Virginia Ruth was born April 8, 1945, and my little brother Rich came along on February 5, 1950. Today, my family would be considered “poor,” yet my Daddy still had a job but he had been moved to working shifts. During the evening shifts, Mother would prepare the supper and drive us to the factory where Daddy would come out to the car and eat with us. The precious folks at the Institute CHOG prayed that he would get back to working days, and God answered their prayer.

During my last few years of high school, although Daddy was still called to serve in an interim situation from time to time, he no longer spent as much time in the country churches. He was still daddy at home – cheerful, telling jokes, making us laugh—and my life was full with school classes and clubs.

In May 1958, at the end of my senior year, I went to the altar and Pastor Haynie, whom I dearly loved and who knew I loved Jesus, asked why I was there. I said I really don’t know… I don’t “feel” saved so I guess I want to get saved again. That very wise pastor prayed for the Lord to RESTORE unto me THE JOY of my salvation! Ah! That’s it! No matter the climate or the problem or the family life, Daddy always had “joy!”

That was it! Over time, I had lost my joy– not my salvation! That did it! Never again have I felt “lost” — Nehemiah 8:10 has been my reminder … ”The Joy of the Lord is my strength!” It’s not my joy that’s my strength …. it’s HIS JOY. It was not joy of being in the city or in the country … it was not my daddy – though I loved him dearly and he exuded joy.

After finishing college in three years, then teaching at my high school for three years, I left my home, my daddy, my mother and siblings, my home church as well as my home town to go to graduate school at Michigan State University. Life was often complicated, and there were times I had to search for JOY, but ultimately I could always find JOY. “The old account was settled long ago.”

Upon completing an MA Degree, at age 26, I was invited to teach at our church college in Indiana. In spite of everything being new and me feeling so inferior … the Joy of the Lord rose up in me as a major encourager. It was there that God gave me the perfect husband whom my daddy fully approved, and we went to Indiana University for more degrees.

Right after my daddy retired from his Viscose job, Alzheimer’s began to invade his mind. However, throughout the years that followed, we all knew that he never let go of the “Joy of the Lord.” On a visit, I would start a hymn and he would sing along—knowing every word. He would quote scriptures, one after another (“Holiness without which no one will see God”). His roommate, a retired Army guy, would cuss up a storm, and my dad would call out from his bed: “Praise the Lord!” No bad word came from his mouth. He did not know who I was—he would just say “I think I know you….” He didn’t know my mother, his wife of 58 years. But he knew Jesus … and he was full of JOY! I will always remember a song of my childhood: : “It is joy, unspeakable, and full of glory and the half has never yet been told ….” My daddy had that joy! I shall forever be grateful of those early years when I was introduced to the Joy of the Lord at home and church by my Daddy, then by my pastor.!

“Do not despise small beginnings for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” Zachariah 4:10. “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” Nehemiah 8:10.

Below: Nitro Church of God, 1946. I’m the first little girl from the left with my white purse.