JOY in heaven! What produces it? The repentance of ONE sinner. Marvelous that heaven should be so stirred by what produces so little commotion on earth, and that there should be joy in heaven over what produces little else but contempt in the world.
An heir is born to some powerful sovereign, or such an one is married, or ascends the throne, and there is great rejoicing and merry-making on earth. Some mighty conqueror returns at the head of his victorious armies, there is great rejoicing on earth; but such matters receive little notice in heaven. Some poor, broken-down, miserable wreck of a man or a woman on a heap of filthy straw, in some tumble-down garret or hovel, turns their face towards heaven and says, " Father, I have sinned," and all heaven rings again with joy.
And where is the source and spring of this joy?
In the heart of the blessed (that is, happy) God.
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Who is in their presence? God. And in whose presence are they?
In that of God. That is where the joy is, from which all heaven catches the tone.
And only to think that 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. Will you, my unconverted reader, yield heaven this joy? Your repentance would do so. Do you ask, "What is repentance?”
It is that change of mind which godly sorrow works. Not the sorrow of the world, that works death, as in the case of Judas. A change of mind as to God, that whereas you thought Him hard and exacting, you own Him to be just, and merciful, and gracious. That whereas you thought yourself righteous, and it may be were even religious, you own yourself to be a sinner, to be utterly without claim upon Him on the ground of anything you are or have done, and cast yourself unreservedly upon His mercy.
A young gentleman, the possessor of ample fortune and estate, lay on his couch dying. A wild course of dissipation had thus early ruined his constitution, and brought on a fatal malady. Beside him sat his uncle, a Christian man, earnestly pleading with him, and setting forth the freeness of God's grace. The young man held the remains of an orange, which he had just sucked, in his hand.
“What," he said, “uncle, do you mean to say that God will receive me, a sinner like me, as empty and valueless to Him as this orange? Why, it would be ungentlemanly, as it were, to offer myself to Him in such a worthless plight. Do you mean to say He would take me as I am?" “Yes, I do.”
“Then," said the dying man, as he let the empty orange skin drop to the floor, " I will let Him take me.”
“Dost thou love the name of Jesus?
Wilt thou trust thyself to Him?
Canst thou say, ' My Savior Jesus,'
Though thine eyes are now so dim?
Fear not thou! the blood of Jesus
Cleanses thee from all thy sin.
In the mighty Name of Jesus
Life anew thou may'st begin.”
W. G. B.