Jesus related a story in Luke 15:7 that “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.  The question is immediately raised as to how the host of heaven knows about this conversion.  Did God tell them or is there witness from heaven that causes one to think that the host of heaven views the earth from the balconies of heaven.  In Luke 15:10 Jesus repeats Himself with a little more detail as He relates; “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  As the Words of Jesus are read, one will question who is showing this joy in heaven?  It is not the angels in this scripture.  The deduction leaves only the Godhead and the souls that are in heaven to express the “joy before the angels of God.”  Thus, they are aware of some happenings that occur on earth while they are in heaven.  

    For several weeks Signpost has reviewed some of the riches in heaven that God has in store for every believer.  We more often think in terms of this life, but God never intended for His creation of man to be anything other than eternal.  After all, we were created in His eternal image.  Too often we think of what I can do, and the success or failure in the human nature of mankind.  Jesus gave power to his followers in Luke 10:19 as he stated, you have “the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.” Then, in the next verse He said, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”  Jesus is saying not only do I go to prepare a place for you where My Father is, but you have a title deed to property in heaven.  That is where 1 Peter 1:4 states that we have “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”  When God created us He was saying, that heaven is where we belong and the writer of Hebrews said believers “were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”  

    The greatest thing that will occur when we reach heaven will be for all to assemble before the throne of the God who created each one of us with our own DNA recognition.  It will not matter if you have ever messed up or how badly you may have messed up in this life as you stand before the throne.  And Revelation 4:6 states, “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.”  For crystal to have value it must be flawless and without imperfection.  No impurities are allowed in crystal and the massive sea of mankind that will stand before the throne of God will be perfect through the vicarious atonement and the Blood of the Son of God shed on the Cross of Calvary.  Every believer will be perfect as he or she stands before God as described by the sea of glass, like crystal.

    N. Brad Carter is a Bible class teacher on WMER (1390 AM) Radio. Email him at rbc@wmerworldwide.