Joy in Heaven — TDW Kids

The God Who Rejoices

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Jesus said that “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Heaven is a place of great joy, and the Bible shows us that God Himself rejoices.

Not a frowning God. Is God always frowning at His people? No. The Bible shows a God who delights in His people. A psalm says that the Lord takes pleasure in His people (Psalm 149:4).

He rejoices to do good. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God promised His people that He would rejoice over them to do them good, with all His heart and with all His soul (Jeremiah 32:41).

Like a happy groom. Isaiah said that as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so God would rejoice over His people (Isaiah 62:5).

Joy over one. In Jesus' story, the man rejoiced when he found one lost sheep. Jesus said heaven is like that. Every single person who turns back to God brings joy.

Everlasting joy. Isaiah said that the people the Lord rescues will come home singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. Sorrow and sighing will run away (Isaiah 35:10).

Brought back home. When God brought His people back home from a faraway land, they were like people dreaming. Their mouths were filled with laughter, and they said the Lord had done great things for them, and they were glad (Psalm 126:1-3).

Jesus died and rose. Jesus went to the cross with the joy ahead of Him in view (Hebrews 12:2). He died for our sins, and on the third day He rose again. Because of Him, lost people can come home to God.

Jesus rejoiced too. One day Jesus “rejoiced in the Spirit” and thanked His Father for showing His truth to humble people, people as simple as little children (Luke 10:21).

Strength from His joy. Once, when God's people cried as they heard His law read, Nehemiah told them not to be sad, because the joy of the Lord was their strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Joy over you. If you have turned to Jesus, heaven rejoiced over you. That is not a small thing. God was glad to bring you home.

What to do. When you pray, remember that you are talking to a God who delights in His children. Thank Him for His joy, and ask Him to fill you with it.

Luke 15:7 says there will be “more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.” Behind that verse stands a God who rejoices.

Chara and chairo. The Greek word for joy is chara (say: khah-RAH), and the verb to rejoice is chairo (say: KHY-roh). Both appear in Luke 15: the man lays the sheep on his shoulders “rejoicing” (15:5), and Jesus speaks of “joy in heaven” (15:7).

God's delight in the prophets. God promised to rejoice over His people to do them good, with all His heart and soul (Jeremiah 32:41). As a bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so God would rejoice over them (Isaiah 62:5). The Lord takes pleasure in His people (Psalm 149:4).

Laughter after captivity (Psalm 126:1-3). When the Lord brought His people back to Zion, they were like those who dream; their mouths were filled with laughter, and they confessed that the Lord had done great things for them and they were glad. God's rescue always ends in joy.

Everlasting joy (Isaiah 35:10). Isaiah promised that the ransomed of the Lord would return to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads, while sorrow and sighing flee away. The rescued come home rejoicing.

Jesus' joy. Jesus “rejoiced in the Spirit” when the Father revealed His truth to babes (Luke 10:21). He went to the cross with joy in view (Hebrews 12:2), and the risen Lord now brings sinners home.

The joy of salvation. After his great sin, David prayed for God to restore to him the joy of His salvation (Psalm 51:12). Joy is not a reward for good behavior. It flows from being forgiven and brought home.

The joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10). When the people wept as they heard God's law, Nehemiah told them not to sorrow, for the joy of the Lord was their strength. God's joy is not only something we feel. It holds His people up.

Joy that lasts. The joy God gives is not the same as a good mood. It rests on what God has done, so it can remain even on hard days.

Application. Is following God heavy and joyless? No. Luke 15 shows heaven full of joy over one sinner coming home. Remember that joy when you pray, and come to God gladly.

Sharing Heaven's Joy

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The man in Jesus' story did not keep his joy to himself. He called his friends and neighbors and said, “Rejoice with me” (Luke 15:6). God's people get to share heaven's joy.

Glad in Antioch. In the city of Antioch, people who were not Jews heard Paul and Barnabas tell the good news about Jesus. They were glad and praised God's word, and the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:48, 52).

Glad to hear the news. Paul and Barnabas traveled through the land and told how people who were not Jews were turning to God. Their news brought great joy to all the believers (Acts 15:3).

Paul's joy. Paul told the believers in Thessalonica that they were his glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). The people who had come to Jesus through his preaching made his heart glad.

Exceeding joy. Jude praised God, who is able to keep His people from stumbling and to present them faultless before His glory with exceeding joy (Jude 24). One day every found one will be safely home.

The best reason to rejoice. Jesus once sent out seventy followers. They came back full of joy because even evil spirits obeyed them in His name. Jesus said, “rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:17-20).

Written in heaven. Having your name written in heaven means you belong to God forever. That is a greater joy than any power or success, and it is true of everyone who trusts Jesus.

John's great joy. The apostle John wrote that he had no greater joy than to hear that his children in the faith were walking in the truth (3 John 4).

From grumbling to praise. Some believers in Jerusalem once complained that Peter had eaten with people who were not Jews. When they heard how God had saved them, they stopped complaining and praised God (Acts 11:1-18).

Pray and tell. You can pray for friends and family who do not know Jesus yet. You can tell them the good news. When one of them turns to God, you will get to share heaven's joy.

The good news. All of this joy comes from the gospel. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” and “rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Because of Him, lost people can be found.

What to do. This week, thank God that your name can be written in heaven. Then pray for one person by name who needs to come home to God.

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” (Luke 15:6). The man's joy is shared joy, and the early church shows God's people doing the same.

Antioch (Acts 13:48, 52). When the Gentiles in Antioch heard the gospel, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. Even after Paul and Barnabas were driven out of the region, the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

On the road to Jerusalem (Acts 15:3). Paul and Barnabas described the conversion of the Gentiles as they traveled, and they caused great joy to all the brethren. Conversion is the same turning Jesus described in Luke 15:7.

Exceeding joy (Jude 24). Jude praised the God who is able to keep believers from stumbling and present them faultless before His glory with exceeding joy. The joy that begins when a sinner is found will be complete when the found are brought home.

Names written (Luke 10:17-20). The seventy returned with joy because the demons were subject to them in Jesus' name. Jesus turned their joy toward something deeper: “rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” The deepest joy is not what we can do for God but that He has made us His own.

Joy that keeps going. John wrote that he had no greater joy than hearing that his children walk in the truth (3 John 4). Paul called the believers in Thessalonica his glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). The joy of the found continues as they grow.

From complaint to praise (Acts 11:1-18). After Peter preached at Cornelius' house, some believers in Jerusalem argued with him for eating with Gentiles (11:2-3). When they heard what God had done, they became silent and glorified God, saying that God had also granted the Gentiles repentance to life (11:18). God can turn a grumbling heart into a glad one.

Joy rooted in the gospel. Every one of these celebrations rests on the same news: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Without the cross, no one would be found and there would be nothing to celebrate.

Joining the celebration. The man in Jesus' story said, “Rejoice with me.” Every time a person turns to Jesus, God's people are invited to rejoice with Him. Thank Him out loud, welcome the new believer warmly and help them grow.

Application. Pray by name for people who are far from God, and tell them about Jesus. When someone comes to faith, celebrate with them, and remember that heaven is celebrating too.

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