​Recently, I read an article which asked the question, “If your house was burning and you had moments to rescue what was most valuable to you, what would you attempt to save?”

 
The article suggested that most people would try to save their home first, then some would focus on family keepsakes, and almost everyone would go for their phone (like, what would we do without the phone?). Others might rush to rescue their vehicles. 
 
Beyond the article and all the things to rescue, I think we all know what we’d save. We’d save ourselves. And the reason we’d save ourselves is that our most precious possession is our time. We’d want to make sure that we had more time for relationships, for experiences, and for life. I think this is pretty much a universal thing - we all want to rescue time.
 
What bothers me about this truth is that if time is my most valuable possession, why do I waste so much of it? Can we just admit that there are more ways to waste time than ever before? Can we acknowledge that our culture and world will take the seconds and minutes and hours we will give it - all the while making what we have left to spend smaller and smaller? What’s the answer to that? There’s only one answer that I know of. 
 
“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
 
I pray this verse every day. And each time I do, I’m more acutely aware that my time on earth is both valuable and diminishing. One day I’ll have none left. It’s up to each of us to ensure its spent well on things that count.

All my life, I’ve turned up the volume. I know where that volume button is on my remote, on my computer, and in my vehicle. For me to hear, the volume goes way up, and I’m not shy about it. I want to hear that music, so let’s crank it up!
 
Did you know that Jesus likes to crank the volume up? In Luke 15, Jesus reveals a secret few have thought of. He reveals this through the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. We know the stories, but don’t miss the secret Jesus is pointing out! It’s the secret of increasing joy in a place where there is no lack of joy - heaven. Did you know there’s a way to turn up the volume of gladness in heaven, where the angels are and where Christ is enthroned?
 
According to Jesus, when one sinner repents the joy levels are off the charts in heaven - the angels are rejoicing, and the Lord Himself rejoices because the sinner has turned to Jesus. “…there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10
 
The point Jesus makes in Luke 15 is obvious. When we help sinners to meet Jesus, heaven rejoices. It’s an undeniable truth that Jesus so clearly communicates, and it reminds me of what He says is important.
 
            It’s important that we value people more than sheep or a coin.
            It’s important to Jesus that we reach out to people needing repentance.
            It’s important that we rejoice and celebrate when people repent. 
 
Reach out and value people. Invite someone to worship with you. When they turn to Christ, rejoice like angels in heaven! Let’s crank up the volume of heaven’s joy.