Something to Really Cheer About

In 1967 on December 31 the second Super Bowl was played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay Wisconsin. The Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys met to determine the NFL champion.  50,861 fans were in attendance despite a -15 degree temperature at game time. This game came to be known as the Ice Bowl. I’m thinking that a person who would watch a game in such cold temperatures would have to be considered an extreme fan, or perhaps just plain crazy. Green Bay won that game and the Packer fans, at least those who had not frozen, went absolutely berserk

Those who go to games to cheer on their favorite team behave in ways they would never behave in real life. Fans who bleed whatever color their team wears become maniacs when their team is playing. They can’t stop talking about their team even in the off season. When their team wins there is rejoicing and continual jubilation. When their team loses utter despair sets in, and usually it was the officials fault that there was no victory.

There are many things that happen in life that cause us to cheer, to applaud, to rejoice, and maybe even dance a jig. But what we fail to realize is that there is something far more important than sports that will cause many of us to rejoice someday. As long as we live on this earth we cannot possibly understand what it is that will bring about such rejoicing. Those who are not searching after God, or spending time with him daily cannot even begin to imagine what goes on in heaven that will make them forget about their most loved and cherished experiences down here.

Jesus told two stories about two people who had lost something. The first was a man who had 100 sheep. One of them went missing. The man left the 99 which were safe in the pasture and went off looking for the sheep that was lost. He found the sheep, joyfully put it on his shoulders and brought it back to join the others. He called his friends and neighbors together and said, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” Jesus went on to say,”I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Next Jesus told about a woman who had lost one of her ten silver coins. She turned her house upside down until she found the missing coin. Like the man who had found his lost sheep she had a party telling everyone to celebrate with her and to rejoice because she had found that lost coin. Jesus said, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

In these two stories Jesus tells what really goes on in heaven, what is so important that everyone cheers, rejoices and probably dances a jig. When we get to heaven and a report is given that a sinner has repented we are going to be so excited, and so happy that we will rejoice in the presence of the angels. I guess they will be rejoicing too. Jesus said there will more rejoicing in heaven than for anything else.

Why will we rejoice? I think we will rejoice because we will see and know the Father like never before. We will perfectly understand his great love. A sinner repenting is one thing that makes him the happiest. Whatever makes God happy will cause us to be ecstatic. You may not believe this but our favorite  team winning the Super Bowl, the NCAA championship, the World Series or any kind of championship will pale in comparison. In heaven we won’t care who wins those games. Heaven is going to be completely unlike anything you or I might expect it to be. Heaven is about God, not about the easy, fun, self centered life that we may think it will be. And you know what? We are going to love it.

Scripture Reference: Like 15:3-10