Tears Wiped Away

Amos 3:14

That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

Barnes writes,

 "Scripture speaks of “visiting offences upon” because, in God’s Providence, the sin returns upon a man’s own head. It is not only the cause of his being punished, but it becomes part of his punishment.

The memory of a man’s sins will be part of his eternal suffering. Even in this life, “remorse,” as distinct from repentance, is the “gnawing” of a man’s own conscience for the folly of his sin. "

I have met a good number of souls whose chief trouble in this world is that they cannot forget what they have done. The sins they have committed visit them and constantly remind them of their wicked deeds. They live in guilt, shame and constant remorse. They have no rest from it. God promises that this will be a part of the judgment of the wicked. The lost soul will find no rest in death. Hell will, instead be a place of torment by the flame and by the smoldering memories of sins committed.

Perhaps the greatest joy in heaven will be that there is no memory of sin there. This is surely part of what it means that God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. Relief from the remorse of sin is found in repentance and reliance (faith) in the redeeming work of Jesus.

Hope, that blessed anticipation of the day when God wipes away our tears, keeps the Christian's head up.