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"The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!' And he said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
(Luke 10:17-20)
Ceeeeeelebrate good times, come on! Did you sing that line in your head as you read it? I know I did while writing it. It is good to celebrate and rejoice when good things happen. Be filled with joy and rejoice! In Luke 10, when the 72 followers of Jesus return from their mission, they are pumped. They saw God move in amazing ways, and they are filled with joy. At first glance of this passage, Jesus' response is curious. It doesn't say that he gave everyone high fives and pats on the back. At first glance, it might seem that Jesus is being a bit of a kill-joy. In reality, however, He is sharing such a joyful and peace-giving truth. God can use you in amazing ways, but for all the joy we can have in how God uses us, it can never outweigh the wonder of who God has made us through Christ.
The 72 return with joy. Let's celebrate! God has used us in amazing ways! Demons were cast out! The sick were healed! The Kingdom of God was proclaimed! But as wonderful as all of these things are, "don't rejoice in this," Jesus tells them, "but rejoice that your names are written in heaven!" Jesus grounds them: as amazing as it is that God has used you in these ways, how much more amazing is it that God has even called you and made you His own?
It's easy to get distracted by mountaintop moments, even to the point where we are prone to pride amidst being used by God in big ways. Perhaps this is why Jesus refers to the fall of Satan. What keeps us grounded and humble amidst being used by the Lord? We remember that we too were once unworthy sinners and enemies of God. But God has called us His and written our names in heaven.
Despite all the things you do for the Lord, the fact that the Lord has made you, once an enemy, His child now, is far greater! And how freeing is this?! We aren't always on the mountain top. We don't always see the fruit of our labor. We don't always feel like God is using us in big ways. Far more often life is a long series of mundane, consistent faithfulness that isn't awe inspiring or book worthy and yet the Lord says that there is reason to rejoice. We don't have to live on the mountain top to have something to rejoice about. Salvation has come. Who you are in Christ is far more important than what you do for Christ.
The work of Christ is enough. It is enough to carry you through the darkest valley, and is it enough to keep you grounded on the highest of highs.
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