This picture is obviously a lake being fed by a mountain stream. But, to me, it is much more than that; it is symbolic of a heart overflowing with sorrow, being fed by tears. Further, it represents those times in life when you are almost overcome by sorrow and seem to be adrift in an unending flow of tears. ( notice what appears to be a man on a raft, floating in the middle of the lake. )
The truth is that life is not always good, nor is it always filled with joy. Bad times come upon us all. What we do in times like these define us as human beings and reveal our inner hearts. Hopefully, we will act and not react in a manner befitting a genuine disciple of Jesus.
Below is one such situation…
John 16 ( World English Bible )
1 “These things have I spoken to you, so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.
2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.
3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
6 But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8 When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;
9 about sin, because they don’t believe in me;
10 about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;
11 about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
12 “I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
14 He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.
15 All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.
16 A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”
17 Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father?’”
18 They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while?’ We don’t know what he is saying.”
19 Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’
20 Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21 A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
22 Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
23 “In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
24 Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
25 I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you,
27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
28 I came out from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”
29 His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you speak plainly, and speak no figures of speech.
30 Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came forth from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
32 Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus gave his disciples encouragement in the face of the knowledge of the unpleasant things that awaited them. Suffering and eventual death were to be the future of most of them, but they were destined for heaven and that knowledge changed everything!
Reality can be a two edged sword. Sorrow beyond belief, but at the same time happiness and hope. Why? Because Jesus has overcome the world! What was true then is true to this day. No matter what the future in this world may hold, we have something wonderful awaiting us in heaven because Jesus has overcome the world.
These things are true and undeniable for Isaiah of old has testified:
Isaiah 25 ( WEB )
6 In this mountain, Yahweh of Armies will make all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of choice wines, of fat things full of marrow, of well refined choice wines.
7 He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it.
9 It shall be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”
The Apostle John tells of Jesus’ words of the future in the book of Revelation:
Revelation 21 ( WEB )
3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”
5 He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”
6 He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.
7 He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.
God has testified these things multiple times, but its up to us to listen.
Will we overcome all obstacles with Jesus, or try to do things by ourselves? I pray that I will always overcome with Jesus, how about you?