In school, who needs that little bit of extra help to overcome the learning curve? The students in a classroom that constantly get straight A’s do not need any help, do they? It is the student who is consistently hovering just above flunking that needs help to become better, and it is when they finally get to that point where they “get it” and fully understand and have learned what they need to know that the teacher can take joy in because they helped that student pass their class.
Similarly in life, some people do not want to think that they need help or that they need saving from sin, because in their own mind they think that they are already perfect and have never sinned. To them, they have nothing that they need to learn or improve in, and that they are complete in themselves and need no assistance whatsoever. Yet the simple truth is that everyone has sinned, and when someone comes to the realization of their sinful condition and their need for salvation that is found in, and only in, Jesus, great rejoicing will be in Heaven. One more sinner saved, one more soul added to the book of life. That certainly is a cause to celebrate.
Luke 15:3-10 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Jesus came to save the lost, and there is great joy in Heaven when one of those sinners finally gets to the moment when they decide that they are going to repent and turn away from their sins, and begin to live for the Lord.
As the Bible says, Jesus didn’t come to save the righteous people, Jesus came to save the wretched sinners. The people who recognize their need for a Savior, those are the people who Jesus came to save.
It takes humility to come and ask for help, doesn’t it? It takes meekness to admit that you are not perfect and that you need the assistance of someone else. Not everyone is willing to do this, but it is required if we want to receive the forgiveness that comes from Jesus.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Jesus is filled with an amazing amount of patience and mercy, just waiting for people to come to Him to receive it. His will is not to bring immediate punishment upon the sinners in this world, which is why each day is a gift to those who have yet to come to the knowledge of the love of Christ. Everyone at some point in their life is on the wide road that leads to destruction, as a result of their sins, but each day that passes is another day that He extends His mercy towards sinners.
When you look at someone living in their sins, remember that Jesus died for them so that they could have the opportunity to be saved. Hopefully, one day, they too will be added to the sheepfold. One day, hopefully they will be the cause of that rejoicing in Heaven when they make that decision to repent.
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 