Postcard: Every leaf

Two postcards came back this week! The first came from a visit to Pennsylvania.  Originally I'd planned to put them in libraries in Philly and NYC, but my sister and I were so busy being crazy tourists that in the end we chose a quieter little library near her home in the countryside.  I'm sure I wrote the name down somewhere...but it was such a whirlwind trip, and I think the memory of where I wrote it down got caught up in that whirlwind.  There are pics, however, so when they resurface I'll introduce the library!

I love that this finder added little drawings! Extra words from the quoted lines were also added around the frame on the front.  They complete the quote, and read:  "every line a flowing brook, every period a lofty mountain.  Lehigh  County, Pennsylvania."  And a heart. :)  The quote is from James Hervey, and I blush to realize I didn't credit him!

Here's the note:

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?...Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance."  Luke 15:4-32 May you sense God's love and care today.  Thank you for the lovely surprise tucked in a book."

I have read this New Testament passage numerous times over my lifetime, and yet today an insight occurred to me that I've never really recognized before.  As a child, I remember puzzling a bit over the idea that 99 righteous people would be the cause of less joy than one who repented. My faith includes the belief that doing good matters--not because it saves you, but because true faith in He who saves by definition changes you.  So it seemed to my young mind that being righteous in the first place should account for as much joy as being unrighteous but ultimately repentant.

Here's what is suddenly obvious to me:  Those 99 persons do not really exist in Christian theology anywhere.  There is no one who needs no repentance.  Christ Himself was the only perfect being who ever lived a mortal life.  So the actual level of joy engendered by those who need no repentance is limited to joy in Jesus Christ Himself.  Everyone else fits into the other category, because regardless of all the good we might do because faith draws us to follow the example of Jesus Christ the best we can, we are still unprofitable servants; He has still put more into us than we are able to return to Him; and we all need repentance.

(Obviously, your faith may differ, and I don't intend to make this blog about religious ideas.  But I do intend to respond to each individual finder here; and this was a new insight for me, and I definitely sensed God's love and care today!)