Many who have went astray, feel that if they ever do come back to God,
then their relationship with Him would never be the same; that somehow, things
would never be the same. Jesus made it very clear that there is great joy in
heaven when one of Jesus' sheep that got lost, are found again and have been
returned to Him! 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 .Luke 15:3-7
In the next few verses, Jesus
tells us of how the Father's heart towards us, is similar to a woman who lost a
valuable coin, and how she would turn the house upside down to find it. When
the lost coin was found, she threw a party to celebrate, and this is like how
the Father throws a party for us when we turn back to Him!
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. Luke 15:8-10
And then my favorite parable
comes up in Luke 15, which tells the story of the son who went the world's way,
and felt he would never be accepted back as a son, but when the father saw his
son returning, he ran towards him, hugged him, and threw a huge party for the
safe return of his son. This story is similar to God's attitude towards us when
we return to Him after going out into the world and messing our lives up by
wild living (or whatever other sins we've committed). Look at how this parable
is wrapped up though:
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way
off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and
kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven,
and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father
said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a
ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and
kill it; and let use at, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive
again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.. Luke 15:20-24
The 15th chapter of Luke is not
the only place in the Bible where we read of such love, compassion, and
forgiveness. God's Word is FULL of examples just like this! Even the OT was
rich in examples of God's love and mercy towards those who returned to Him.
Look at what God is saying in Isaiah's first chapter:
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of
the land: Isaiah 1:18-19
The entire book of Hosea is a
great place to read of God's heart towards those who have rebelled and turned
away from Him. He longs for the backslider to return, so that He can clean up
the stain of sin, and restore His relationship with them! One verse I like in
Hosea tells us:
I will heal their backsliding, I
will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Hosea 14:4
Meditate on these truths in God's
Word It's great to read a teaching like this, but what really begins to
transform your mind, is when you take these sort of scriptures, print them out,
and meditate on them. Verbally confess them to yourself!