Don’t Miss The Party!

Did you know there is a party waiting for you in heaven? And contrary to what most people think, God is not looking for perfect people to put on his invite list. As a matter of fact, He’ll go out of His way to search for even one lost, injured or rebellious person. This truth is beautifully portrayed in the story Jesus shares in Luke Chapter 15 of the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to search for the one that strayed away…and He does not stop looking until He finds him. But there is more to this story than meets the eye. Sheep are often smelly and dirty, especially after they’ve wondered where they should not have gone. Their wool is thick and coarse and picks up all kinds of dirt, bugs and grime. It even masks nasty wounds from sight, inviting infection and disease. But instead of deterring God, these are the things that actually stir His heart towards us…for He knows that this is when we need him most.

And once God finds you, if you are willing, He will lift you up onto His shoulders, dirt, stink and all, and joyfully carry you home. He doesn’t expect you to be perfect when He finds you. He is not surprised if you are confused, tired, hurt and afraid—He simply lifts you up, skin against skin, thrilled to have found you and to be bringing you back home.

When you stray and find yourself in a place far from God, don’t be afraid to cry out to Him, admitting you’re lost and want to come back home. Perhaps you were momentarily distracted and it led you down the wrong path. Perhaps you’ve fallen and are injured and too weak to make the trip back on your own. No matter what the reason, God is always willing to reach out to you, forgive you, and joyfully carry you home.

But there’s still even more to the story. When you come back to God, He will ask everyone to celebrate with Him because you have been reunited. This truth is so critical that Jesus uses not one, but three illustrations to make the point: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.

In each story, the recovery of what was lost is cause for a huge celebration:

• The shepherd “called together his friends and neighbors, saying ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep!’” (Verse 6)
• The woman who finds her valuable coin “will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin!’” (Verse 9)
• And finally, the father whose son returns home after carelessly wasting his life, “saw his son while he was still a long way off, ran to [him], embraced him and kissed him…and declared ‘we must celebrate!…for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found!’ So the party began.” (Verses 20, 23-24)

Do you see what it says in verse 24? There’s going to be a party!! Don’t miss it!

“In the same way, there is rejoicing in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Luke 15:10)

Shadia Hrichi

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