The party of the century

I have this thing about jewelry.  Honestly, I don't particularly like jewelry all that much.  But I have a few pieces that I love, and wear all the time.  Like the opal ring, for example, that rarely ever leaves my finger, even when I shower or sleep.  Or the silver dangly earrings that are my constant companions for almost every outfit that I wear.

Every now and then, however, I do take them off, and on occasion I also misplace them.  And on those few instances when I can't find them, boy am I devastated.  I search high and low, I turn my place upside-down until I find them.  They're just simple little pieces of metal, nothing of importance, really, but they mean a lot to me, and I will work very hard to make sure that they are safe.

So I think to myself, if I will put so much effort into ensuring the safety of such insignificant little trinkets, how much harder will God work to ensure the safety of us?  We are worth so much more than rings or earrings.  I'm reminded of my happiness when I find a misplaced earring.  And then I wonder at the happiness that fills Heaven when God finds one of His own, when a lost soul comes home again.  The joy must be spectacular.  Nothing less than the party of the century.

Luke 15:1-10

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

 ¹ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  ³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 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 persons who do not need to repent.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

    ⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”