I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:7 (NIV)
More Joy
The soaring joy on the women’s Olympic soccer pitch for Canada is tempered by the deflating lack of it on the hardwood. Canada’s disastrous Tokyo Olympics basketball sojourn, which began with the failure of the men’s team to advance out of the qualifying tournament in July of 2021, continued with the failure of the world No. 4 Canadian women’s team to advance past the pool stage at the Tokyo Summer Olympics last year. Canada has more NBA and WNBA players than any country outside the U.S.
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We all love to be joyful. We look forward to activities that are fun, and enjoy friendships that make us happy. In a time when we are all dealing with the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, we desperately want a little joy in our lives. The good news is that God wants you to experience true joy, not just the temporary joy that the world offers. If you are wondering what kind of joy this is, listen to what Jesus says in Luke 15:7: “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.” Heaven is filled with joy. The reason Jesus came was to bring men and women into relationship with Himself, by His death on the Cross. When a person responds to the love of Jesus by turning their back on their sin and trusting Jesus Christ, all of heaven rejoices. That joy not only fills heaven, but fills the heart of the person whose life has been transformed by Jesus Christ. It is eternal joy. Have you experienced it?
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley