I dreaded the idea of attending a memorial service for an old friend. Fred had rejected the need for Jesus in his life, and because of that I was sure he was lost forever.

Yet Fred’s many friendships had included followers of Jesus. At the service, as one of those friends spoke of a conversation he had in Fred’s last months, my eyes filled with tears.

Fred had asked him, “Do you think I’ll go to heaven?” The friend had honestly replied, “No, Fred. I don’t think so.” As they talked, Fred’s wall of resistance began to fall, and he said, “Philip, I believe that what the Bible says is true.” After a lifetime of rejecting the free gift of salvation, Fred finally accepted Jesus as his Savior.

With happy tears, I thought about the verse: “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). Jesus and the angels were rejoicing with me.

As Fred had requested, we stood and sang, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!” To my friend, those familiar words had become a personal reality.

Let’s bring more joy to heaven by spreading the good news: Jesus loves us—this we know!


The great God who made the heavens,
Keeps the stars within their bound,
Still rejoices with His angels
When a poor lost soul is found!  —Bosch

All heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents.