“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”” (Luke 15:10, ESV)
For six months, Jimmy avoided seeing his father. Jimmy became angry at Chet for not loaning him five thousand dollars for a used car. Chet tried to explain that Jimmy needed to go to a bank and get a loan. Securing a loan through a bank would help Jimmy gain a better credit score. If Jimmy got married in the next few years and wanted to buy a house, that good credit score would help. But Jimmy was upset. His father had the five thousand dollars to loan. Jimmy saw his father’s explanation as just another way for Jimmy to be forced to beg for something.
Then, Jimmy was called to the hospital by his mother. She explained through a cell phone message that Chet was taken by ambulance to the hospital for a suspected heart attack. Now, the twenty-six year old had to make a decision. Should he suck up his pride and go to the hospital? Should he ignore his mother’s plea? Maybe he should just make believe he didn’t get the call. After a good deal of self-assessment, Jimmy left for the hospital. When he got there, he went to the emergency room. Seeing his mother in the waiting area, he was shocked at how distraught she looked. Her face was covered in tears. Her mascara was running down her face. She was pale. Fearing the worst, he asked about his father. Jimmy was told that Chet died from a heart attack. The EMTs could not restart his heart.
After fifteen minutes, Jimmy went with his mother to view his father’s body. While in the room, tears ran down Jimmy’s face. Hurting, Jimmy grabbed his father’s cold hand and said out loud, “I’m so sorry, Dad! I’m so sorry about the loan, and about my anger, and about…. About everything!”
Grasping Jimmy’s hand, his mother replied, “Honey, I’m sure Chet would have loved to hear that.”
Jimmy didn’t take much comfort in her words. He knew deep down in his heart that sometimes, it’s too late to say, “I’m sorry”.
Saying you are sorry can be a good way to overcome a break in a relationship. It can bring healing. Those simple two words (I'm sorry!) can change the direction of history. Why is it, then, so hard for people to utter those two little words, even to God?
In Luke 15, Jesus uses several parables to describe people who have lost and then found something. In those parables, a lost sheep is found, a lost coin is found, and a lost son returns home. Each of these parables is a reminder that there are not only lost things in this world but there are also spiritually lost people. When people who are lost to God come back, there should be joy. The meaning of Jesus’ words is easily gleaned: there is “joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). When a person repents of a sin, he or she can find grace and peace. The lost sinner who repents will find his or her way back to God. The repentance of a returning soul is something worth celebrating!
So many people see repentance as a bad thing, a negative. Some see repentance as “having to suck up your pride and admit you were wrong”. Others see repentance as a way to make a person look like a failure or expose their personal problems. I met a man who said he was not going to repent for his sin; it would make him look weak! According to scriptures like Luke 15:10, Jesus did not see repentance in such a negative light. He saw repentance as something deserving celebration. To say, “I’m sorry”, was for Jesus a cause for “joy in heaven”. It was a way to turn things around. Repentance brought back the wayward soul into the fold, back to spiritual safety and security. True repentance let’s loose the grace of God into one’s life. It heals the breach between sinner and God. It can bring peace back to heart and soul. It makes things right again. Who wouldn’t want that?
I walked into the chapel late one evening expecting to be alone with God. As I opened the door to the sanctuary, a voice was speaking out loud near the altar. Someone was talking to God! I only heard the last few words, “I’m sorry God. I promise with my whole heart to make it right.” Hearing such words, I quietly backed out of the chapel and waited outside. From my vantage point on a bench darkened by a large maple tree, I saw a teen exit the chapel and head back toward the dining area. I knew that teen. I knew he had a heavy, burdened soul.
What happened in the years after I overheard that young man’s voice has brought great joy to my heart. Six months after hearing his words, I was informed by a mutual friend that the young man married his high school sweetheart and was leaving for mission work in Central Africa. While speaking about Jesus in Africa, I found out that his life had been threatened by Muslims who were in the area. They didn’t like him spreading the gospel. The man continued in his efforts, unabated. Sometime later, he came back to the United States and became a strong leader in his church. He continues to support missions to Africa. He has housed many foreign missionaries and their families who needed a place to stay when in the States.
I believe that man’s prayer at the altar set the stage for everything that came after. I believe he meant every word he said to God. I’m excited to see how his repentance has so energized his family life and spiritual life. Those two words, “I’m sorry….”, blessed another beautiful soul.
Does someone need to hear you say, “I’m sorry”? Does God need to hear your heartfelt words of repentance? Don’t delay. You will find comfort and peace and so much more when you let go of past sin and put yourself at the mercy of God’s grace. Angels in heaven will rejoice when you let go of the burden you carry in heart and soul! When you mess up, God will be waiting…listening for those two small words…..
Then, Jimmy was called to the hospital by his mother. She explained through a cell phone message that Chet was taken by ambulance to the hospital for a suspected heart attack. Now, the twenty-six year old had to make a decision. Should he suck up his pride and go to the hospital? Should he ignore his mother’s plea? Maybe he should just make believe he didn’t get the call. After a good deal of self-assessment, Jimmy left for the hospital. When he got there, he went to the emergency room. Seeing his mother in the waiting area, he was shocked at how distraught she looked. Her face was covered in tears. Her mascara was running down her face. She was pale. Fearing the worst, he asked about his father. Jimmy was told that Chet died from a heart attack. The EMTs could not restart his heart.
After fifteen minutes, Jimmy went with his mother to view his father’s body. While in the room, tears ran down Jimmy’s face. Hurting, Jimmy grabbed his father’s cold hand and said out loud, “I’m so sorry, Dad! I’m so sorry about the loan, and about my anger, and about…. About everything!”
Grasping Jimmy’s hand, his mother replied, “Honey, I’m sure Chet would have loved to hear that.”
Jimmy didn’t take much comfort in her words. He knew deep down in his heart that sometimes, it’s too late to say, “I’m sorry”.
Saying you are sorry can be a good way to overcome a break in a relationship. It can bring healing. Those simple two words (I'm sorry!) can change the direction of history. Why is it, then, so hard for people to utter those two little words, even to God?
In Luke 15, Jesus uses several parables to describe people who have lost and then found something. In those parables, a lost sheep is found, a lost coin is found, and a lost son returns home. Each of these parables is a reminder that there are not only lost things in this world but there are also spiritually lost people. When people who are lost to God come back, there should be joy. The meaning of Jesus’ words is easily gleaned: there is “joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). When a person repents of a sin, he or she can find grace and peace. The lost sinner who repents will find his or her way back to God. The repentance of a returning soul is something worth celebrating!
So many people see repentance as a bad thing, a negative. Some see repentance as “having to suck up your pride and admit you were wrong”. Others see repentance as a way to make a person look like a failure or expose their personal problems. I met a man who said he was not going to repent for his sin; it would make him look weak! According to scriptures like Luke 15:10, Jesus did not see repentance in such a negative light. He saw repentance as something deserving celebration. To say, “I’m sorry”, was for Jesus a cause for “joy in heaven”. It was a way to turn things around. Repentance brought back the wayward soul into the fold, back to spiritual safety and security. True repentance let’s loose the grace of God into one’s life. It heals the breach between sinner and God. It can bring peace back to heart and soul. It makes things right again. Who wouldn’t want that?
I walked into the chapel late one evening expecting to be alone with God. As I opened the door to the sanctuary, a voice was speaking out loud near the altar. Someone was talking to God! I only heard the last few words, “I’m sorry God. I promise with my whole heart to make it right.” Hearing such words, I quietly backed out of the chapel and waited outside. From my vantage point on a bench darkened by a large maple tree, I saw a teen exit the chapel and head back toward the dining area. I knew that teen. I knew he had a heavy, burdened soul.
What happened in the years after I overheard that young man’s voice has brought great joy to my heart. Six months after hearing his words, I was informed by a mutual friend that the young man married his high school sweetheart and was leaving for mission work in Central Africa. While speaking about Jesus in Africa, I found out that his life had been threatened by Muslims who were in the area. They didn’t like him spreading the gospel. The man continued in his efforts, unabated. Sometime later, he came back to the United States and became a strong leader in his church. He continues to support missions to Africa. He has housed many foreign missionaries and their families who needed a place to stay when in the States.
I believe that man’s prayer at the altar set the stage for everything that came after. I believe he meant every word he said to God. I’m excited to see how his repentance has so energized his family life and spiritual life. Those two words, “I’m sorry….”, blessed another beautiful soul.
Does someone need to hear you say, “I’m sorry”? Does God need to hear your heartfelt words of repentance? Don’t delay. You will find comfort and peace and so much more when you let go of past sin and put yourself at the mercy of God’s grace. Angels in heaven will rejoice when you let go of the burden you carry in heart and soul! When you mess up, God will be waiting…listening for those two small words…..