Advocate Article - 1/24/05

MORE JOY IN HEAVEN

As this previously blank page stared at me, I struggled with what to write.  “Inscribe on its nothingness something joyful,” my mind said.  Tell a story based on Luke 15:7.  To no avail, a good news story eluded me.  Bad news seemed omnipresent.  In other words, whenever news of sadness, illness, tragedy and/or death drifted from memory, other human crises jumped to the fore.  Maybe the world’s greatest tragedy has dampened my spirit beyond my awareness.  Maybe a fresh read on Theodicy might be required to help me understand God and natural catastrophes.  Maybe the screams, the suffering and the dying, real or imagined, are supposed to linger in my heart long after giant waves consigned our brothers and sisters to earthly silence.  Powerful tsunamis have killed an estimated 160,000 to 200,000 victims in twelve countries around the Indian Ocean.  Up to 5,000,000 persons have been left either hungry, thirsty, homeless and/or naked.  My God!!!   

Given this reality, I am still elated.  The United States and the world community have not forsaken victims of this tragedy.  They have exhibited the compassion of the Good Samaritan.  Daily, food, medicine, fresh water, clothing, temporary shelter etc. have eased human suffering.  God has witnessed the nations of the world helping the “least of these.”  In my view, God was overjoyed.  Even better, divine contentment reigned supreme when the nations of this earth did the unthinkable.  They suspended cold wars, real wars, gender wars and wars over caste.  Propaganda machines bearing false witness took a break.  Stoking the fires of racial and religious hatred/bias ground to a halt, albeit temporarily.  The whole world paused, prayed and redirected its money, means and person power toward those who needed it most.  Highlighting this miraculous switch may be the outpouring of aid to Sumatra, a part of Indonesia, by Uncle Sam.  “Sumatra is the largest Muslim country on earth.”  Given 9-11 and the present day anti-Muslin sentiment of first world nations, ministering to our Muslim neighbors with such compassion is nothing short of the kingdom of God coming on earth.  In other words, there is more joy in heaven over nations who spend their millions helping the “least of these” than on nations who spend billions hurting them.      

By the way, God gave me a gospel story based on Luke 15:7.  “…There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents then over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Sure enough, it came unexpectedly.  The West Michigan Cabinet had a retreat January 18-21, 2005 at the Maranatha Retreat House in Muskegon, Michigan.  There, we met Rosa.  Thirty-nine year old Rosa-of Puerto Rican heritage-was our waitress for breakfast and lunch.  In the process of serving us, Rosa voluntarily shared her testimony.  This mother of two sons had been a heroin addict and a prostitute.  But God saved her.  Some pastor and his spouse invited Rosa to church. So, Rosa came to faith and changed her life.  Her decision caused “more joy in heaven.”  After her conversion, Rosa admitted falling back into her old ways three more times.  Again, a different church, pastor and lay folks, rescued Rosa and her sons from homelessness, want and depravity.  Heaven celebrated again.  Then, Rosa mentioned Chris, her youngest son.  Because of her constant troubles, Chris went downhill academically, physically and spiritually.  Then, a miracle happened.  Chris began to read the Bible.     And the Word convinced him that it had the power to rescue his Mom.  One day as his Mom went out the door to “get high,” Chris asked his mother to listen to scripture.  She put Chris off with a promise to do it later.  When his Mom returned home in a drug induced state, Chris pursued her with a little orange Bible and read the Word.  Unable to resist her son’s conviction and commitment to read the Bible to her and listen to the Word of God, Rosa gave in to her son.  She turned away from her former life and returned to the way that leads to life eternal.  God used Rosa’s youngest son to bring her back to God.  All of us were deeply touched by Rosa’s testimony.  While the Cabinet, Dick and Dianne Morrison stood and laid hands on Rosa right there in the dining room, Abiade (Kalamazoo D.S.) knelt down at her feet and prayed a prayer extempore of gratitude and mercy.  During that sweet communion of prayer, tears rolled down our cheeks.  Joy welled up in our hearts.  Bliss unspeakable reigned.  Yet, our exhilaration over Rosa’s repentance was surpassed by heaven’s joy.  A Negro Spiritual described one response in paradise when a sinner repents, there is “shouting all over God’s heaven.”  Excuse me!  I must stop writing!!  I feel a shout coming on!!!  Glory!!!!