The Party that REALLY Matters
- 16,500 people constitutes a LARGE group.
- 16,500 individuals can be counted one-by-one.
- As they walked through the turnstile, they were counted as their ticket to attend was collected.
- As they made their way to their seats, those in charge, knew about their presence, for the stadium should not exceed the maximum number; the fire-marshal proclaimed it so.
- On that particular day, about 16,500 filled the stadium.
- On that certain day, about 2,500 lives were changed.
- On that glorious day, more than 25% of them responded to the Gospel message.
Now, I am not a mathematician (just ask anyone); nonetheless, my calculator displays that 25% of 16,500 = 2,475. Two thousand. Four hundred. Seventy-five. One-by-one. Person-after-person.
- When a person buys a house, there is NOT a party in heaven.
- When a parent’s child graduates, there is NOT a party in heaven.
- When an illness, a disease, a cancer is defeated here on earth, there is NOT a party in heaven.
- When a person goes on vacation and finds rest from his work, there is NOT a party in heaven.
- When a family has enough funds to make their ends meet, there is NOT a party in heaven.
- When a couple conceive and later birth a child, there is NOT a party in heaven.
In the Bible, we often read about how the religious Jewish leaders became agitated when Jesus surrounded Himself with those of ill-repute. We do not need to turn too many pages before we locate a passage proclaiming how God’s salvation is found through Him (Jesus, the Son of God). Dr. Luke was a man called to leave his profession and follow Jesus, knew the joy that came to a household when a disease was cured or when a new baby was born to a pregnant woman. In The Gospel According to Luke, we find a certain passage that shares the words of Jesus, explaining about The Party that Really Matters—in Heaven.
“So He told them
(The Gospel According to Luke 15: 3-7 NAS)
[the tax collectors and sinners who came close to hear Him speak]
this parable, saying,
“What man among you,
if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and
go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
When he has found it,
he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he comes home,
he calls together his friends and his neighbors,
saying to them,
‘Rejoice with me,
for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
I tell you that in the same way,
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
- We can pray for deliverance.
- We can pray for God’s hand of mercy.
- We can pray for individuals to come to know God’s grace.
- We can pray for those who are lost, &
- We can proclaim God’s Truth: for there is a consequence for unbelief.
The Bible proclaims it so!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 1: 16-21 NAS)
for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed faith to faith;
as it is written,
“BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men
who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because that which is known about God is evident within them;
for God made it evident to them.
For since the creation of the world
His invisible attributes,
His eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly seen,
being understood through what has been made,
so that they are without excuse.
For even though they knew God,
they did not honor Him as God or give thanks,
but they became futile in their speculations,
and their foolish heart was darkened.”
Yes, there is a payment for remaining in sin.
The Bible proclaims it so!
There is the Way that leads to righteousness.
The Bible proclaims it so!
- We are saved by faith. &
- We are called to live, to walk by faith. &
- We are entrusted to keep living by faith, for He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it in the day of Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ Will Come Again!
The Bible proclaims it so!
We will see Him as He is & our faith will be rewarded by sight.
- Christ alone is the answer!
- Christ alone is the Only answer to the hopeless of our world!
Therefore, on a day when 16,500 individuals walked through the turnstile into a particular venue, & When they were counted as their tickets to attend were collected, & As they made their way to their seats, preparing to listen to the Gospel message proclaimed—Some heard & believed that day.
During that one particular event, 16,500 attended & 25% responded to the Gospel message!
- There is an Event that REALLY Matters.
- There is a Party that REALLY Matters.
May you & I who believe in Jesus—
May you & I who have been redeemed in Christ—
Invite those who we know—who remain lost, to come into—
The Party that REALLY Matters.
- Hallelujah!
- Praise the Lord!
THERE IS A PARTY IN HEAVEN—WHEN A SINNER REPENTS!