The Heavens Rejoice

Luke 15

It’s important for us to remember why Jesus told the three parables in chapter 15.  He was hanging out with those tax collectors and sinners again.  It’s always funny to me how the Pharisees would refer to the sinners.  Like they aren’t sinners too.  But these were the people who were perhaps more known for their sin. That’s why tax collectors are also included, because they were so notorious for extorting money.  So whether it’s the tax collectors or the rest of the sinners, just think of a group of people with reputations for their sinful ways.   The sins more associated with the dregs of society rather than the sins of the religious elite.  And to sit down at a table and eat with such people was to indicate acceptance.

Jesus goes on to tell not one but 3 parables to make his point.  The most well-known being the prodigal son, which I’ve already written on, but we still have the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin.  These two parables express the immense joy of finding the lost sheep or coin, and compares that to the joy there is when a sinner repents.  That sinner once was lost, but now is found, and the heavenly realms rejoice.  Perhaps for those of you who can point to a particular moment when you gave your life to Christ, you may remember someone explaining to you how the angels were rejoicing over the decision you made.  This is where that comes from, when we see the angels rejoicing over the sinner who repents.  These two parables tend to focus a bit more on heavenly angelic rejoicing, while the parable of the Prodigal Son focuses on the attitude of God himself.  One thing is for sure.  They are all about God’s grace and love for the lost. 

There’s a story that speaks of a conference on comparative religions; experts from around the world debated, what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. The debate went on for some time until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. “What’s the rumpus about?” he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions.  Lewis responded, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”  The people at the conference had to agree. The idea of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct we have.  The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and Muslim code of law, all of these offer a way to earn approval. Only Christianity shows us that God’s love is unconditional!

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for Your unconditional love and Your boundless grace.  I’m thankful for Your forgiveness, and I’m blown away by the thought of Your joy and the angels rejoicing when I came to saving faith in You.  Thank you Lord that I will never be lost again.  Amen.