This verse holds such a promise. We’ve gone here many times to find comfort, and its there in so many ways. Can they be true? Absolutely!
Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
“Passed away” generally denotes sadness, but thank God there is a passing away. This is the foreseeing of a coming reality. The words are promises. John was told to write them. Verse 5 says “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” John was allowed to see this vision—the different church ages, what will be in the end, the anti-Christ, judgment, and eternity of the saved in heaven. Those who chose sin and rejected the Lord he saw cast into the lake of fire. John saw all the tears and troubles of this world pass away. Things present, whether good or bad, will soon become the former things. They’ll be behind us. It’s a blessing for us but frightening for others who are not saved. All that is will be gone for good. The chance to be saved, our conveniences and comforts will be over. The rich man passed away and never had his riches again. His present became his former. He passed away to the poverty and despair of Hell. The only thing left was his dying soul. Reality depends on our relationship with Jesus. When Lazarus died, he had nothing but gained it all. Passing away is a great possibility. It won’t always be as it is right now. This is a caution for the lost and comfort for the saved. Remember weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
It’s the term for death. The word hurts; we use passed away or passed on. Every one of us will sooner or later. Hebrews 9:27 says “and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Ecclesiastes 3:20 says “all go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” This doesn’t mean the souls of all people go to one place. It concerns the body. The appointment is with passing away. If not by the grave, we’ll pass from this life in the rapture. We’ll all pass away. What others think about us won’t be important then; it’s what God knows.
Ecclesiastes 1:4 says “one generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.” Years ago this was someone else’s church. It’s ours now. Tomorrow it will be someone else’s. The majority of people never think about dying until it knocks on their door. The day of death is as much a part of life as our birth. Are you ready to go? Ecclesiastes 5:15 “as he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.” Man makes the mistake in thinking what they have in this life is a security afterward. We came in with nothing and will leave the same way—with nothing. Our eternal hope in the Lord is our only security. Solomon saw all he had and said it was vanity. As wealthy as he was, he realized he’d take none of it with him. The only thing we’ll take with us when we pass away is our soul. Is yours ready?
Jesus passed away for you. Hebrews 4: 14 “seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” He died for us, but he is alive forever more. He passed away from this world to a place far better. He took his place at the right hand of the Father. He left the flesh he took on for us and passed on to be our living Savior and Master. It enables Jesus to save millions at one time, but he does it all individually. I’m glad he passed away. He’s in the position to save you, and right now you’re in the position to be saved.
Using the word “away” means to put a distance between two things. We can put a distance from the world, the devil and our sins because they were passed onto Jesus. He then passed on to the heavenly holding victory in his hands. Passing away means making a transition. The person laid in a casket left only his remains. He made his transition. Nothing can change it. The saved go to where Jesus is. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. I’m looking at a congregation who has passed away. In order to pass away from these chains, we must first pass away in Jesus. We pass from death unto life.
Paul said in II Corinthians 5:17 “therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The things we have are nothing. Let’s trust Jesus every day. Let’s keep the old man dead. The reality of Revelation happens when our soul dies out to Jesus. Our passing away now determines what will happen when we pass away from this life. Through the new birth we pass away when we give our sins to the Lord.
If you’ve not passed away, how many want to? You can.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 