When Heaven Rejoices
“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” - (Luke 15:10)
In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables, all dealing with the subject of lost things. One was about a shepherd who lost a sheep. The other was about a woman who lost a coin. The third was about a father who lost a son.
In the case of the shepherd, we read that he left his other 99 sheep and searched until he found the one that went astray. Wrapping it around his shoulders, he returned home, rejoicing. Jesus said, “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:7).
Then Jesus spoke about a woman who lost a coin. The idea of losing a coin may not seem significant to us, but in those days, married women wore headbands with coins. So losing a coin from your headband would be the equivalent of losing your wedding ring today. Needless to say, she searched until she found it. Drawing from that, Jesus said, “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents” (Luke 15:10).
Lastly, Jesus went on to tell the story of the prodigal son and how there was great joy when that lost son returned home.
When a person believes on Earth, it is public knowledge in heaven. And not only is it public knowledge, but it is also cause for celebration. So if it is important in heaven, shouldn’t it also be important on Earth?
Our hearts should leap every time we see or hear of someone coming to faith, because what is a big deal to God also should be a big deal to us. Heaven rejoices when people come to faith.
Summary sentence: Heaven rejoices when people come to faith, what is your “rejoice barometer?”
Tags: heaven, joy
Copyright © 2012 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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