Choosing to be “Found”: Luke 15:1-10

In our passage for this journal entry, we will be looking at two short illustrations Jesus shares that let us know how excited things get in Heaven when sinners are saved. We read that they celebrate, and it is likely quite a party.

Which brings us to the one thing we’ll focus on today: “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” & “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Verses 7, 10)

One thing that stood out in this passage is the emphasis on repentance, which is another way to say acknowledging sin in our lives and turning away from it and turning towards Jesus, our Savior. Included in this turning away from sin is asking for forgiveness and recognizing our need for help – specifically help from our Savior. Repentance means leaving any and every sin in the past and looking to Jesus for the strength and ability to live a new, free life in Him.

Too often we emphasize forgiveness and minimize repentance. Forgiveness is an act, a decision at a moment in time, while repentance starts as an act, but it is realized over a lifetime. Forgiveness is important. Repentance is essential.

It seems to me that this passage places repentance on par with joining the family of God, which is equivalent to being “saved”. In these parables, Jesus is searching for things (i.e. people/sinners) that are lost, and when they are found (i.e. saved/restored), there is a celebration.

The biggest difference between finding something like a sheep or a coin when compared with finding a person is that, in our case (finding a person), we can choose whether to be found or to remain “lost”. Jesus is always ready to find us and accept us back when we decide that we want to be found. We let Jesus know that we want to be “found” by repenting – turning away from sin in our lives and looking to Him to help us move forward.

When we do, there is a celebration in Heaven!