20061008
Mourning is the heartfelt emotion of the believer who is poor in spirit, and can be understood as profound sorrow or grief caused by deep personal loss. The Christian believer who understands the gravity of his own personal sin cries out with the apostle Paul, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” and is comforted by the answer, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:24-25).
Most people we live with like to have a good time. Cheers, fun and laughter rule the day, and these people do not like mourners, for mourners are thought to be wet blankets. But over and against this, the Lord Jesus teaches “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4). This does not mean that Christians are to be heavy hearted and depressive looking persons, excessively melancholic and grovelling in self-pity. The Christian need not fit the stereotype of the little girl who exclaimed, “That horse must be a Christian; it’s got such a long face!”
By contrast, the person who mourns because of personal sins is one who has come to see and know God in his holiness and grace. Like the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, the vision of God’s glory leaves the believer in utter devastation over his own sinfulness. Yet, the amazing thing is that the God against whom one has sinned is the same God who brings comfort and forgiveness to sinners!
It is important to emphasize that no single beatitude should be isolated from the others. Jesus’ description in His beatitudes is of the whole and balanced Christian life and we are not to distort his teaching by isolating one principle from the others. As we grow in spiritual maturity, our personal experiences ought to be stretched in response to the power and glory of the Christian gospel. The child of God knows sweet joy in addition to deep sorrow and continually engages in more profound mourning in addition to greater rejoicing in the Lord.
Furthermore, the obedient child of God knows the fundamental truth that we will only ever mourn while we remain here on earth. The day of eternity will come when God himself will wipe away all tears from the eyes of those who once mourned. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4).
