Great rejoicing in heaven

https://odb.org/2024/07/23/time-to-party

There is great rejoicing in heaven whenever a sinner repents and comes into faith in Christ Jesus. The parable of the prodigal son narrated by Jesus Himself in Luke 15:11-32 illustrates this very well. When the prodigal son returned after wasting away his inheritance in wild living, the father accepted him back wholeheartedly with much joy and rejoicing, putting on him his best robe, sandals and a ring on his finger and he threw a feast for him with a fattened calf.

This is strengthened by the two parables just before the parable of the prodigal son where Jesus spoke about the lost sheep and the lost coin where both the shepherd and the woman who lost the coin spared no effort to search for the lost and calls a feast when they find their lost sheep and coin. We know everyone in heaven will rejoice whenever a sinner repents and comes to God.

For us who have been around for many years in church and ministry, we know that the journey of faith is often fraught with perils, pitfalls, and hazards – the challenges, the ups and downs of life. Like the parable of the soils, many are like the word that fell among the thorns where the thorns grew up and choke the word. Thus, they are like those who, after accepting Christ, fell away as they are choked with the cares, riches, and pleasures of life. Many are also like those who fell among the rocks who hear and receive the word with joy, but with no root, they believe for a while and fall away when temptation comes. Sadly, even believers who have long been in the faith and have served faithfully for years may suddenly give up on Christ after something tragic unexpectedly happens in their lives.

There is a need for every one of us at whatever stage in our walk with Christ to always persevere through, come what may. As Paul so cleverly and rightly pointed out in Romans 8:18 that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. In other words, whatever we are or will go through here on earth, the glory that awaits us in eternity far outweighs all!

The message this morning is that we must always be watchful – continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2) as finishing well is much more important than starting well. We need to finish the race and cross the finish line. It is our personalised race against the finish line. It is our race alone with Christ at and on our side. We are not competing with anyone except against the viles of the evil one and the temptations of the world. Keep to the narrow path, and we will be good! Continue to fulfil God’s plans and purposes for our lives, and we will be good! Never cease serving Him in His church and His Kingdom of Grace, and we will be good!