Note the progression of rejoicing in the three parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. First, all we know is that "there is rejoicing" in heaven for the lost one returned. Then we discover that angels witness the rejoicing, though they don’t seem to be a part of it. Who then is doing this celebrating? In the story of the returned prodigal, we see that the great joy filling the heavens comes from none other than the Father Himself, singing over the homecoming of His son! And here I'd always thought it was the angels rejoicing.
As children of a good Father, our hearts should long to bring joy to our saving God, and there are many ways to do this. However, in my own experience, I have focused almost solely on "right living," presenting Him my weak strivings for His honor and my Christlikeness. Yet, while God calls us to pursue conformity to Christ's image and the advancement of His Kingdom, I too often neglect the chief way to accomplish both––evangelism.
What is more Christ-like than bringing the gospel to the hurting and dying, the castoff and the repulsive? What advances God's glory more than another sinner snatched from the devil's chains? How Pharisaical are we who think that giving Christ "our goodness" will please Him when we ignore the lost cries of Les Miserables around us. (I just watched the film, after reading the book, and find Victor Hugo's characters the embodiment of our need to be socially concerned Christians.) Let us bring unequaled, undying love to the ravished Fantine. Let us bring identity, hope, and peace to the conflicted and past-hounded Valjean. Let us show grace to the unyielding and lonely Javert. Let us give true purpose to Marius and his fervid revolutionaries.
And above all, let us bring our perishing, aching, needy brothers and sisters in Adam to our Father and watch Him rejoice.
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