This morning I went for a walk in
the Estate where we live. We have lovely parks with some of the
natural vegetation left by the developers. Now this morning I saw
amongst the thorn trees a small deer. It was the most lovely thing
in the early morning sun. I was so excited and couldn't wait to
tell my two boys about it. But then I stopped to think about it.
Why was I so excited? I mean I have seen probably thousands of deer
in my life. I can simply go to a zoo and see a lot of them. Why am
I so excited then? Then I realized it is because he is free. He is
free to roam as he wishes and to go where he pleases unlike the
animals in the zoo that are bound to one area, whether they want to
or not. I was privileged to see him this morning, but when I see
them in the zoo I don't even glance at them, because it doesn't
feel special. They don't have a choice.
The same is true for us. The Lord
didn't make us robots that have to follow His Will with no choice
in the matter. We are not caged in with no choice but to stay
there. No, God gave us freedom. He gave us the freedom of choice.
And that is why there is so much excitement in heaven when one of
us decides to give our lives to Him, to turn to Him out of free
will.
Jesus also taught several parables
and a lot of them are about something being lost. Like the sheep
that was lost, the son that was lost, the coin that was lost etc
etc. And He spoke about the rejoicing in Heaven when what was lost
is found again.
The other day I went shopping and
my two boys were all around me whilst I shopped. Now as it happens
I was busy looking at something and when I looked up they were
gone. I immediately started searching, my heart pounding and my
mind racing as to where they could be. To cut a long story short, I
found them hiding from me between the clothes and I was so relieved
to see them (they did get a hiding though and some stern words, but
I was immensely relieved). That night I gave them each a special
hug, which I wouldn't have done if they weren't 'lost'. There is
much rejoicing when lost things and especially lost people are
found.
Heaven rejoices over us that make
the choice not to be lost anymore, but to be part of His Kingdom.
It is like seeing a cheetah in the wild walking over the road right
in front of your car with small cubs, except the rejoicing is a 10
000 000 times more intense. And as much as Heaven is rejoicing
about you, they are rejoicing about each person you bring in as
well. Remember that next time you share the Good News with someone.
Remember that too if you don't feel like sharing the Good
News.
Lord thank you for giving us a free
will. We freely choose to follow You. We love You and we long to be
with You one day. Amen