ALL HEAVEN REJOICES

In the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells some parables to the religious leaders of his day because of they were grumbling about Him welcoming and allowing the "sinners" and tax collectors to gather around Him. In that chapter, Jesus tells three parables each about something that was lost: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son (also, referred to as the prodigal son). Each parables ends with a statement of how we should respond to the finding of the item lost. Remember, that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning or truth. Parables only communicate a single truth. Too often some people try to force everything in the parable to have some hidden or special meaning totally missing the real point of the story. Jesus was addressing the unbelieving hearts of the religious leaders who in their self-righteousness looked down on others responding to Jesus' message. The last parable concludes with the "prodigal son's" father declaring in verse 32, "But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." The father declares to the oldest son that it was a moral neccessity to rejoice in the return of his prodigal brother. The first two parables conclude with similar expressions of rejoicing. For example, in the first parable a shepherd had one hundred sheep and one wanders away. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine who are safe and searches for the one lost sheep, and when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulder and goes home. The shepherd calls all his friends and neighbors together requesting them to rejoice with him about his lost sheep being found. Then Jesus says, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." How does heaven respond to the salvation of one sinner? ALL HEAVEN REJOICES. Tonight along with all of heaven, the Griffis family is rejoicing in the salvation of my granddaughter Taylor who this evening prayed to receive Christ as her Lord and Savior. She called to tell us this blessed news. Folks, I want all of you to rejoice with me and my family. Bops and Nanny have been praying for this day since before Taylor was born. I thank God for His faithfulness. He is like the shepherd in the parable Jesus told. God was faithful to call out and search for this little lost sheep. Praise God. May 7th, 2007, will always be her spiritual birthday. Hallelujah.

Taylor Griffis-- this little sheep was once lost, but now is found. We serve a Great Good Shepherd.