Joy in heaven―what produces it? The repentance of ONE sinner!
How marvelous that heaven should be so stirred by what produces so little notice on earth! How wonderful that there should be joy in heaven over what produces little else but contempt in the world!
A prince is married, an heir is born to a royal family or a new president is inaugurated, and there is rejoicing and merrymaking on earth. Some mighty general returns with his victorious army, and there is great rejoicing on earth, but such matters may receive little attention in heaven.
Some poor, broken-down wreck of a man or woman turns towards heaven and says, "Father, I have sinned," or "God, be merciful to me a sinner," and all heaven rings with joy.
And where is the spring and source of this joy? In the heart of God. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." The joy from which all heaven catches the tone comes from the heart of God Himself.
It is not the faultless, self-righteous Pharisee that produces this joy. It is the repentance of a sinner that does so. Of a sinner? Yes, there is joy in heaven over ONE sinner that repenteth.
What is repentance? It is a change of mind as to God, that whereas you thought Him exacting and cruel, you own Him to be just and merciful. It is a change of mind as to yourself, so that where you thought yourself righteous, perhaps even religious, you now own yourself to be a sinner and without claim upon Him on the ground of anything you are, have done, or can do, and you cast yourself unreservedly on His mercy.
May the Lord lead you to do so for His name's sake.