The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 15:8-10,
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
This parable of the woman with the lost coin is the second of three in chapter 15 of Luke. In these parables of joy in heaven over a sinner who turns to God, words like "joyfully", "rejoice", "rejoicing", "let's have a feast", "celebrate", "be glad" are used. The calling of others to join in the celebration of joy is found in all three. Music, dancing, celebration and gladness are all specifically pictured in the analogy provided in the third parable, the parable of the prodigal son.
In the parable of the woman with the lost coin, when it is found (the picture of a sinner who comes to God), the owner of the coin seeks out her friends and neighbors to celebrate with her. Jesus uses this picture to speak of the rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God, "over one sinner who repents."
"Over one sinner who repents."!!
What a sweeping and breath-taking account Jesus provides us that takes place in heaven when one turns to God! Here is where unbridled excitement and celebration take place! What this tells me of God is barely touched on in sermons and the tomes of theology! What I read here transcends the excitement of the best of Super Bowls and other sports events with everything from the pre-game tailgating to the celebration of that last touchdown. What I read of here transcends the excitement that the Allied victory brought at the end of WWII! What I read of here transcends any excitement that the entertainment industry and pop culture can possibly generate!
From what Jesus told us, God's heart is one that loves life, loves joy, loves celebration, and loves to express it! While I am certain of the somber and serious aspects to God's nature as expressed in his judgments, his awesome glory, his righteousness, etc., what we see of God in these parables tells me the best of what we see in this life can't begin to be compared with the excitement and thrill of what we will find in heaven with God!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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