The good news about “lostness” is “foundness”.

Luke 15:1-32 records where Jesus told three parables back-to-back about “found things”. He started with a shepherd searching for a sheep who declared, “…I have found my sheep that was lost!” Then He described a woman searching for a coin who declared, “…I have found the piece which I had lost!” And finally, He finished with the story of a father diligently scanning the horizon for his son each day who declared, “…he was lost and is found!”

At the beginning of Luke’s narrative of the three parables, he described the scene, “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him” (v.1). Consider this, they came to listen. There was something about Jesus that drew them. His genuine demeanor captivated their hearts. However, when the Pharisees protested, Jesus deliberately pointed out two key items (through parable) to all who were there; repentance and joy. The two go hand-in-hand; repentance brings joy. Not just joy for the forgiven, but joy in heaven also!

As you go, think about that joy. Obviously a person under a load of guilt is happy when freed from it, but ponder the joy in heaven. Hebrews 12:1 tells us we’re surrounded by “a great cloud of witness”, and as they’re cheering us on we’re to be:

“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” – Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

And when we do…I think He smiles.