I don’t know the modern-day phrase or idiom that is applicable or appropriate to ask. I plead ignorance in regard to the latest slang expressions. So, let me ask you a question using the phrases of which I am familiar. How was the noise level as you rejoiced in your church last Sunday. Was it “off the hook,” or “off the chain,” or “off the charts?” Or was the church mouse making more noise than the congregation? How was the noise level as you rejoiced in your church last Sunday? Was it “off the hinges” or “off the chizain?” Or was it so quiet that the preacher had to show that he was not to proud to beg for an “Amen?” Look! I guess I have grown to love an interactive, reactive, participative church, where the noise level demonstrates that they are engage in the dynamics between the Provider (Jehovah-Jireh), the pulpit and the pew. But if you are being internally insightful rather than externally excitable, I get it! But let me tell you something. It’s alright to lift your voices in the sanctuary! It’s okay to praise God in His special presence for He desires and definitely deserves your praises. Your vocal agreement and voiced assenting validates the truth that is being preached. Somebody who needs to know is watching you who know the truth that sets folks free is being spoken.. Thaink about it! Your verbal shouts testify that the preacher is doing what He was charged to do, to “Preach the Word.” About now, you are asking, “What does this have to do with the title, ‘But What About Heaven?’”
Well, I’m getting there. Some may think I should apologize for the first paragraph, but apparently there was a bonus lesson to be shared. So, no apology is really necessary. Nevertheless, let me get to my original inspired message to be taken from this meditation. I did not really intend to interrogate you about internal happenings in the sanctuary of your church last Sunday. Afterall, nobody appointed me as the sound level monitor (much like a hall monitor in schools) having the responsibility to see if your decibel level was high or low. Furthermore, not in my undergraduate or in my graduate studies did I work on a project related to the study of the factors determining the acoustical level of any church meeting place on this earth.
However, when it comes to the noise level in the sanctuary, on every Sunday, I do have to ask, “But what about heaven?” Was heaven quiet during the entirety of your service, specifically the time of invitation to Christian discipleship? Here I go with those old phrases/old school saying, again. At the time where individuals were given the opportunity to come and confess with their mouths the Lord Jesus, did heaven have reason to “raise the roof?” Now, we usually think about what is going on in the house of God where we worship, but what about heaven?
I have a good reason to ask this question. For if heaven was making some noise up there in glory, in response to what was happening at your church, that means that at least one person was saved. Let’s be honest. We sing, we shout, we clap our hands, and we stomp our feet in the sanctuary and with the utmost sincerity. But what about heaven? Shouldn’t we be doing missionary work during the week, going ye therefore and making disciples? As a result, shouldn’t we find ourselves celebrating every Sunday when a person comes from the status of lost to the status of found, from the condition of blind to the condition of seeing, spiritually?
Let’s not forget the question in the title this week. By not forgetting, it might help us, prompt us to be a witness for the Lord, and cause heaven to make some noise by our winning souls one by one! Look at heaven making some noise in the closing verses. Let’s get to it! Be blessed!
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:7 King James Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
The noise level in our church is becoming increasingly more evident. The noise level in heaven has never crossed my mind until you brought it to my attention with this meditation. How joyful the angels must be when one moves from being lost to now be found. Yes it is Jesus, down in our soul that gives us the courage to reach out to bring into the body of believers.
I observe the same thing. It makes a difference. And, yes, heaven makes some noise up in there when we win souls. Pray for the unsaved in our church family’s homes.