Happy Are those Who Mourn

Most of us have experienced mourning, grief or sorrow in one of these forms at sometime in our life. These are sorrows associated with things in this life. If left unchecked, these sorrows will lead to anger, bitterness, hatred and the worst - death. This is a picture of us. These are sorrows that lead to death. But Jesus is not talking about mourning over negative events in our life. Jesus is talking about godly mourning over SIN. Our mourning started when we realized that we were enemies against God (Rom. 5:10) because of our sin. And then we believed in the only One who could forgive our sins (Acts 4:12) and we were at peace with God and there was comfort (Rom. 5:1).

But the word Jesus uses for mourning implies much more. It is a verb which is a present active participle. This implies repeated action or an ongoing condition. What Jesus is saying is that the ones who are constantly mourning and mourning over their sin are those who will be comforted (Greek word means "to encourage"). Jesus is talking about an ongoing pattern of life. He is speaking to His disciples. You see, our mourning brought us to Jesus but our mourning should not stop after we find Him. Jesus is characterizing His true disciples. This is the heart of the beatitude. Jesus' true disciples never stop mourning over sin.

Conclusion. Newsweek said it well in an article published some years ago, that American churches have stopped telling congregants they are sinners because it makes them feel worse about themselves. But that is Jesus' point! Some Christians are like the Pharisees who did not see themselves as sinners. Many Christians have a defective view of their sin. They talk about love, doctrine, church, God, family and their children, BUT they do not talk about their sin. Have you ever noticed how we pray? We ask others to pray that we are healed from our illnesses because our health is very important to us. May I ask when was the last time you asked someone to pray for you - for victory over some sin you are struggling with? Have you ever noticed that good health seems to be more important to us than holy living? Few of us ever ask others to pray that we find victory over our sin. We seem to have a congenial view of God - a view that says He completely "accepts me the way I am." Christians have forgotten that God still hates our sin! Are you mourning over your sin or are you mourning over your illnesses?

You see, Jesus' true disciples constantly sense their ungodliness - they are constantly mourning over their sin like Paul the apostle (Rom. 7:24-25). We need to see ourselves as Christians who still have a spiritual Lou Gehrig's disease. We are terminally ill people who are going to heaven. But while we are visiting this earth, we need to see ourselves as we really are - forgiven sinners who should be seeking to be holy. Are you like the Pharisees - happy with your relationship with God AND YOUR SIN? We need to put our personal holiness above our health. We need to be constantly coming to Jesus. COME and admit that you have a spiritual Lou Gehrig's disease - SIN. The Holy Spirit says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (NKJV)." (1 John 1:9) "Be holy; for I am holy." (1 Pet. 1:16)