Nov 06 – EXALTATION ON REPENTANCE

“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-ninejust persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

The whole heaven gets into a mood of celebration, for the sake one person who moves away from his sinful ways and accepts Lord Jesus Christ as his personal saviour. There is great joy and ecstasy among the angels in heaven. And there is no limit to the joy in the heart of God.

God also grants great exaltation in the life of those who repent and turn to Him. The Scripture tells us that: “He raises the poor from the dust” (1 Samuel 2:8). How does God elevate him, and how far does He exalt the person? God exalts him to be seated on His throne along with Him. And fills him with all the divine blessings. And He lifted him up from the clutches of sin and hell to Paradise. If the criminal had not repented and turn back to the Lord, he would have gone into hades, for eternity.

Even at the time when Jesus hung on the Cross, he beheld one of the criminals on the cross by His side, repenting and accepting the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Even when He was suffering on the Cross, the Lord decided to exalt the criminal who accepted His Lordship.

You may have seen huge cranes being operated in the harbours. It is used for lifting up heavy containers from the incoming ships, by stretching out its long arms and shifting them to the harbour. In a similar manner, the Lord lifts up every sinner who repents from the miry clay of sin, from the dirty and dusty pit and exalts him straight into His own throne, to be seated along with Him.

Just imagine the kind of change that happened in the life of prodigal son, the moment he repented and turned back to his father. Prior to that, he was starving and without clothes and would have been satisfied with the feed of the pigs. He would have been tormented by his own conscience. What a pitiable condition that would have been? And what a miserable state of life!

But when he resolved in his heart to repent of his current state and to seek his father, there was a dramatic change in the situation. His father came running toward him, embraced him and kissed him. The whole house broke into music, dance and festivity. Just think of that rebellious son who is now seated by the side of his father. Such great exaltation, of being lifted up from the filthy pig sty to a position of being seated along with his father, was possible only because of repentance.

Dear children of God, the Lord will exalt you much higher than what happened to the rebellious son, if you will repent and accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Will you repent and turn to Him today?

Verse for further meditation: “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:32)