Real Joy

Ask the man in the street what is his aim in life and if he is honest he will reply that it is to be happy. People want to enjoy themselves. Some find pleasure in work and achievement, others in making money and acquiring material things and still others in pastimes and leisure activities, for example sport, music, dancing and drinking. There are also noble souls whose happiness is to be found in caring for and pleasing others. Of all worldly joys this surely is the most satisfying. Jesus, Himself, said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Today, it is sad to see so many professing Christians turning to worldly pleasures. They are like the Israelites who yearned for the flesh-pots of Egypt (Exod. 16:3) or the dog that returns to his own vomit again (2 Pet.2:22). The only real and lasting joy is to be found, not in worldly things, but in serving God.

The Joy of God Himself The picture that is presented in the Scriptures of God and of heaven is one of infinite, eternal and unchangeable happiness. Before any creature existed there was active happy communion within the Trinity. The assertion, “The Word was with God” (Jn.1:1), implies a face to face inter-relation between the persons. When God created the world He was pleased with the result. “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Gen.1:31). On the seventh day the Lord rested from His work and contemplated it with satisfaction. God also has joy in His works of providence: “The Lord shall rejoice in his works” (Ps.104:31).
God’s supreme joy is in His saving work because it is His greatest work. When Christ came into the world and identified with His sinful people in baptism, God the Father spoke from heaven saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mat.3:17). We are told: “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Lk.15:10). The presence of the angels must refer to God Himself, in whose presence the angels stand. He rejoices over every sinner converted.

Joy in the Gospel Story The Old Testament saints, in looking forward to the coming of Christ, rejoiced. “The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek” (Is.61:1). “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound” (Ps.89:15). When Mary visited Elisabeth the latter responded: “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb....For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” (Lk.1:42,44). John, by this act of faith, showed that he was regenerate even in his mother’s womb. Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Lk.1:46-47). The wise men “rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Mat.2:10). When Jesus rose from the dead and revealed Himself to His disciples, at first they “believed not for joy” (Lk.24:41), and after He ascended up to heaven they “returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Lk.24:52).

The Joy of the Saviour He was “a man of sorrows” (Is.53:3), but He also had His joy. He said, “I delight to do thy will, O my God” (Ps.40:8). When Christ saw the success of His seventy missionaries we are told: “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Lk.10:21). “God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Ps.45:7). There is a note of joy in His words of triumph on the cross: “It is finished” (Jn.19:30). He had drunk every drop of the bitter cup of sufferings that the Father had given Him. Salvation has been accomplished at tremendous cost. His people are saved for ever. We are asked to remember the example of Him, “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb.12:2).

The Joy of the Christian There is an obligation laid upon us: “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil.4:4). The command is repeated because we have such a tendency to be mournful. There is sadness in this world over our own and others’ troubles and sufferings. Our own sins cause us even greater sorrow. When we consider the miserable state of those without God and without hope, it is hard to be happy. Yet we rejoice in the Lord and we say to our soul: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Ps.42:11).

WHY CHRISTIANS REJOICE

Joy in Forgiveness. Paul speaks of justification by faith and of our having “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” and so being able “to rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom.5:1-2). John wrote his Epistle “that your joy may be full” (1Jn.1:4). He then proceeds to say: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn.1:9). For someone convicted of their sin and aware of the awfulness of their going to a lost eternity, it is a wonderful discovery that their sins are forgiven. Peace in one’s conscience is followed by overflowing joy. Many of us remember the great joy that broke in when we knew we were saved. Jesus told his disciples to rejoice, not so much in miracles performed by them, but “because your names are written in heaven” (Lk.10:20).

Joy in the Saviour. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1Jn.4:19). How our hearts are warmed when we discover that the Son of God “loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal.2:20)! “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1Pet.1:8). Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22).

Joy in Worship. In a sense the essence of worship is rejoicing in God. It was more external and visible in the Old Testament. It involved clapping hands, shouting (Ps.47:1), dancing, and playing stringed instruments and organs (Ps.150:4). In New Testament times it involves receiving the Word with gladness and continuing “steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

Joy in God’s Law. The Psalmist found God’s law sweeter to his taste than honey and more desirable than fine gold (Ps.19:10). He exclaimed: “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Ps.119:97). Of God’s commandments he said “they are the rejoicing of my heart” (Ps.119:111). Paul confessed: “I delight in the law of God after the inward man” (Rom.7:22). The pathway of holiness is a happy one but sin brings misery.

Joy in Creation and Providence. The beauty of creation fills the heart of God’s children with joy: “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained...The fowl of the air and the fish of the sea....O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Ps.8:3-9). In the midst of many enemies and Satan’s opposition God’s people lift up their eyes to the One on the throne: “The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice” (Ps.97:1). Whatever happens our heavenly Father is in control. He assures us of His care: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom.8:28).

Joy in Service. There is joy in working for God. Even to give a cup of cold water to a thirsty person for Christ’s sake does not go unnoticed by God (Mk.9:41). He that shows mercy is to do it “with cheerfulness” (Rom.12:8). In our evangelistic work we are assured, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Ps.126:5). There is the great promise: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1Cor.15:58).

Joy in Suffering. Sometimes the Christian will suffer persecution but Jesus encourages us: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Mat.5:12). The apostles, when beaten, “departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). James calls upon us to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (Jam.1:2-3). Gold is purified by the fire. Even chastisement is a cause of joy when we remember that it is a mark of sonship and that it is calculated to produce “the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised thereby” (Heb.12:11).

Joy in Heaven. There is a paradise of joy ahead of God’s people. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev.21:4). “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Rev.14:13). The all too brief moments of His fellowship here below, which fill our hearts with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” will open up into “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time: Wherein ye greatly rejoice” (1Pet.1:4-6). For some their future will be in the place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mat.25:30), but to others Christ will say: “Well done good and faithful servant:...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Mat.25:23).

SPURGEON WROTE TO A YOUNG MINISTER

I rejoice that you have begun so hopefully in Bury, may you see the Lord’s hand more and more plainly every day. Oh for thousands of real conversions! We want no sham penitents, and noisy professors; but men and women whose hearts are sick of sin, and whose minds find real rest in Jesus. This must be the work of the Holy Ghost, and therefore the godly must pray mightily for you. All must begin and end at the throne of grace. You and I know this, and have felt the truth of it; and therefore we put it at the forefront of the battle.
Give my love to the Lord’s servants who are helping you, and bid them ask great things from the great God. Why should we look for so little and reap so little? The God of Pentecost is with us.

Any comments or questions please E-Mail me or Rev William Macleod the editor.

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