As you view this picture of Christ weeping, I would like to ask you this question, Why is He weeping over the world? I want to answer this question the best I can, but you must consider the reality of the tears and the pain that Christ must be feeling. Christ came into this world because His Heavenly Father sent Him, He came to do the will of His Father. He accomplished that will on the cross and before He gave up His life, He said "It is finished." Why then does He weep for the world today? (If you don't want the music, scroll down to the lower picture and click on the pause button under Crystal Tears)
Let me take you into a father's joy and a father's pain, something almost all father's experience when they begin to raise their families. When I got married I became an instant father, my wife had been married once before, and through that marriage had a son. It was a joy to have a son and all the expectations of raising him. My wife and I brought two more children into this world, another son and a daughter. I felt very proud having this family and wanted everything to be just right. All my children brought me much joy as the years began to go by, but I must say they also brought me days of frustration and pain also. You see, as they began to grow up they also were developing their own independent way of thinking. Not that this was all bad, children are supposed to do this, but I also seen the seeds of the world's view being planted in them.
We went to church regularly, my children attended Sunday school classes and were involved in youth groups. They learned about God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. Every Wednesday night we would attend the mid-week bible study and the kids would attend another youth oriented meeting. We stayed involved in church and kept our children involved also. My children seemed to enjoy going to church and having fun in their youth groups. As they got older I began to see changes in their attitudes and some of their actions were not always so pleasing. A rebelliousness had crept into their lives. I overlooked some of this just believing that it was just their age, you know, those teenage growing up becoming independent thinking years.
When we were at home we did the normal activities, played games, helped with homework, prayed over our meals and and at bedtime closed the day with a prayer, we read stories, went camping, fishing, and had many get together's with family and friends. As my boys were growing up I had many struggles with them about doing the right things. We even had some calls from their school about situations that came up. Some of these were because of problems that they had created and some because of someone else's influence. This was not an easy time when dealing with these type of troubles or should I say rebellious attitude's. My daughter was the easy one, she kept her mind on the right things and put an effort into her activities. Although she did confess while in middle school that she was having a bit of rebellious attitude that came out of her mouth as such, she still remained faithful to her convictions, for the most part. Fortunately she had a teacher that believed in Christ and guided her in her way of thinking. She as all do still made mistakes and some wrong choices, but she determined to stay faithful to the values she had been taught and to the Lord Jesus Christ.
As my boys were finishing up with their high school years the rebellious attitude and actions began to show up more prevalent. After our oldest son turned eighteen we gave him the freedom to chose if he wanted to go to church or not, we would no longer force him to go. He was quite pleased with this, and stayed away from church for awhile attending on an occasion when something special would come up. I could see that the influence's of the world and the friends that he had chosen were taking him in a different direction than I had planned, a direction that would bring him heartache and trouble. I could only pray for him and hope that he would turn the other way and find his way back to the values he was taught and back to God. The hope and prayers are still going on. I want you know that I love my oldest son very much, but I as his father could not persuade him to come back to God and instill back into his life those godly values. He still is fighting this spiritual battle. My middle child as he continued to grow up began to take the same path as the oldest. Drinking alcohol had entered into his life as did the oldest. After he graduated from high school he joined the Marine Corps following the footsteps of his Dad and his grandfather. I knew this decision would bring some good discipline into his life, but I also knew that the influences of that lifestyle would not necessarily be the best. When he left to become a Marine, I wept for a few days not only for knowing what he was going to face, but because of the emptiness that was created when he left.
My children know the ways of the Lord and they know the consequences of not following after Him. But for now, only my daughter and her family are taking the path of the Lord. It is not speak ill of my boys, it is that they have taken a different path that has lead them away from the Lord. It is a path that has brought them much heartache and pain. There lives are good and they are good men now, but, they are still continuing down a path that does not bring them happiness or peace.
This is just a brief summary of my children's journey, I say this not to highlight their mistakes or wrong decisions, I say this for the benefit of the father's that are going through the same things, I say this to relate to you the hurt I have felt as a father when my children would turn away from what I was trying to teach them about following the ways of the Lord. There were many sleepless nights, many tears, and many hours of prayer for them. The disappointment that a father feels when his children rebel against him by turning away from righteousness, good moral's and deciding to follow the ways of this world knowing how much pain they may well face.
When you look at the picture above you see Christ weeping over this world. Even though He came to free us from sin and rebellion, we continue to turn our backs on Him. God looks on this world not so much with anger, but with a heart that says I love you no matter what you have done. He looks at all His lost children that continually rebel and tell Him by their actions that they will do it their own way. He sees His children making bad choices and wrong decisions and continually refusing to follow after Him and do it the way of their Heavenly Father.
What God sees are murders, lies, thieves stealing from anyone that has what they want. He sees broken families and children being cast aside as trash. He looks on a world that has followed the way of His enemy and claiming they have the answer's to life. As Christ looks on a world that He gave His life for, He hurts for those who are still suffering from illness, poverty, children starving for the lack of food because of greed of their government's and evil people who only look out for themselves. He sees the jealousies, the hatred, and the debauchery that goes on. Christ looks on a rebellious people who just won't come to Him for salvation, who instead follow after man made idols, man made religion, and say that the world was not created by Him but evolved into what it is today. He sees a world system that is destroying His creation because of selfishness and greed. So Christ weeps over a world that has turned away from Him and continues on a journey that brings pain and suffering throughout every nation, every country, every village and throughout every family. Christ still offers His love to the lost and dying world, He still weeps for those who are lost and cannot find their way. He still cares for those who are suffering under the enemies rule over this world. Christ still offers the way of salvation to all who will turn to Him. Through all the tragedy the human race faces today, Christ still calls out, "I am the way" "come, take my yoke, my burden is light." "follow me." Yet, the world goes to war, it follows after evil and determines that man can solve its own problems So Christ looks on this world and weeps as a father weeps after his own children, beckoning them to come back where there is love and safety, back to a place where peace is found and a place where hope is alive and well.
Because of the cross that He was crucified on, we have a way to come back to our Heavenly Father and that way is through His Son, Jesus Christ.
This is just a brief summary of my children's journey, I say this not to highlight their mistakes or wrong decisions, I say this for the benefit of the father's that are going through the same things, I say this to relate to you the hurt I have felt as a father when my children would turn away from what I was trying to teach them about following the ways of the Lord. There were many sleepless nights, many tears, and many hours of prayer for them. The disappointment that a father feels when his children rebel against him by turning away from righteousness, good moral's and deciding to follow the ways of this world knowing how much pain they may well face.
When you look at the picture above you see Christ weeping over this world. Even though He came to free us from sin and rebellion, we continue to turn our backs on Him. God looks on this world not so much with anger, but with a heart that says I love you no matter what you have done. He looks at all His lost children that continually rebel and tell Him by their actions that they will do it their own way. He sees His children making bad choices and wrong decisions and continually refusing to follow after Him and do it the way of their Heavenly Father.
What God sees are murders, lies, thieves stealing from anyone that has what they want. He sees broken families and children being cast aside as trash. He looks on a world that has followed the way of His enemy and claiming they have the answer's to life. As Christ looks on a world that He gave His life for, He hurts for those who are still suffering from illness, poverty, children starving for the lack of food because of greed of their government's and evil people who only look out for themselves. He sees the jealousies, the hatred, and the debauchery that goes on. Christ looks on a rebellious people who just won't come to Him for salvation, who instead follow after man made idols, man made religion, and say that the world was not created by Him but evolved into what it is today. He sees a world system that is destroying His creation because of selfishness and greed. So Christ weeps over a world that has turned away from Him and continues on a journey that brings pain and suffering throughout every nation, every country, every village and throughout every family. Christ still offers His love to the lost and dying world, He still weeps for those who are lost and cannot find their way. He still cares for those who are suffering under the enemies rule over this world. Christ still offers the way of salvation to all who will turn to Him. Through all the tragedy the human race faces today, Christ still calls out, "I am the way" "come, take my yoke, my burden is light." "follow me." Yet, the world goes to war, it follows after evil and determines that man can solve its own problems So Christ looks on this world and weeps as a father weeps after his own children, beckoning them to come back where there is love and safety, back to a place where peace is found and a place where hope is alive and well.
Because of the cross that He was crucified on, we have a way to come back to our Heavenly Father and that way is through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ told those that would listen to Him that "He is the way, the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
In Romans the Apostle Paul states that we are all sinners, and "no one is righteous," we all are full of iniquity. Romans 3:9-18
Look now what God is saying to us today, yes, even you. In the book of Romans Paul explains that the entire world is without excuse. He says the law that Moses gave us made us aware of our sin and that the law cannot save us. "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." Romans 3:20
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. this sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He himself is fair and just, an He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus." Romans 3:23-26
Yes Christ weeps for this world, He weeps because of our turning away from the love that He offered us on the cross. He still loves mankind, and His sacrifice is still active for us today. If He had to, He would do it again, but thank God, He does not have to do this again and again, the sacrifice was final, he said it on the cross, "it is finished." The blood that He shed was His own, and it paid the price to redeem you and give you the opportunity to come back to the Heavenly Father and be a part of His Kingdom here on earth. Won't you stop whatever you are doing right now and say this prayer; "Father in heaven, I am lost and have sinned against you. I repent of my sins and confess to you that Jesus Christ is your only begotten Son. I believe in Him and that He died on the cross for me, forgive me of my sins and come into my life and renew my spirit so that I might have a new life formed and modeled after your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you Father for saving me, help me now to live a life for you and to follow your ways and not the worlds, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." If you prayed that prayer and meant it sincerely, you are now a child of God. You need to get a bible and start reading it, also it would be good to find someone who is a Christian or believer and ask them to help you in your journey. Tell them that you have accepted Christ as your savior. Spend time daily praying and asking God to guide you in this new chapter in your life. It won't always be easy for satan will try and trip you up continually and lie to you about your salvation, but don't listen to him, he is just that, a liar. Trust in God and He will help you every step of your journey. May God bless you richly and protect you, may He shed His love on you through His Son Jesus Christ.
The pictures are paintings by Erik Hollander, if you would like to view them and or purchase one go to this sight; I am not promoting his work but have used it in this blog post and feel obligated to point you in his direction. http://www.christcenteredmall.com/stores/art/hollander/hollander.htm
Jesus weeps for you, no matter what you are doing right now, He loves you very much and wants you to experience His peace, the only true peace that passes all our understanding.
I leave you now with a poem by TulsaButterfly - paintings and poetry
CRYSTAL TEARS
CRYSTAL TEARS FALL FROM HIS EYES
WHEN HE LOOKS UPON THE EARTH.
FOR WHAT HE SEES BREAKS HIS HEART,
WE LIVE IN ABJECT DEARTH.
HE DIED ON THE CROSS SO ALL COULD SEE
THE GLORIES HE CREATED FOR YOU AND ME,
BUT IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE HE DIED FOR US,
THEN HE CRIES, AND CRIES FOR US.
THE CRYSTAL TEARS ROLL DOWN HIS CHEEKS,
THEY DROP ON HEAVEN'S FLOOR,
HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN FOR US,
HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY DOOR
INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER,
THE RULER OF ALL, ON HIGH.
IT IS THE NAME OF JESUS ALONE
THAT GETS US TO HIM NIGH.
OH, FRIEND, PLEASE LOOK TO JESUS,
HE DIED UPON THE CROSS,
AND ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY
SO WE WOULD NOT BE LOST.
WHEN WE BELIEVE IN JESUS
AS THE RISEN SON OF THE LIVING GOD,
OUR FUTURE IS SEALED IN HEAVEN,
AND THE GOLDEN STREETS WE SHALL TROD.
THE CRYSTAL TEARS FLOW DOWN HIS CHEEKS
BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT, MAGNIFICENT LOVE.
HE WANTS US ALL TO LIVE WITH HIM
IN THE HEAVEN HE CREATED ABOVE.
This Picture Was Painted By Erik Hollander
The Title Of The Picture Is As Follows: "JESUS WEPT"
Art of the Covenant - Jesus Wept Products - ORDER PRINTS at
Art of The Covenant
Poem by: Tulsabutterfly - Paintings and Poetry
Tulsa Butterfly's Poems & Paintings Page
The Title Of The Picture Is As Follows: "JESUS WEPT"
Art of the Covenant - Jesus Wept Products - ORDER PRINTS at
Art of The Covenant
Poem by: Tulsabutterfly - Paintings and Poetry
Tulsa Butterfly's Poems & Paintings Page
