02.14. The Christian Life, a Life of Joy

14. The Christian Life, a Life of Joy

We all know what joy is; and we have all tasted it in some shape or other. Who is there that cannot call to mind some event in his past life, when he was for a time unusually happy, and his heart was filled with joy? But observe, this may be, without there being a spark of religion in our souls. For this joy is a mere natural joy — mere earthly joy — it is quite different from that higher joy which is so often spoken of in Scripture.

I have sometimes heard people say, that there is no joy but in religion. If they mean there is no true joy, no lasting joy — then I agree with them. But if they mean that the unconverted man can never feel happy, I think that they are mistaken. For there is a joy which the world gives, and which perhaps you and I have often felt — and it is folly to deny it. Why, David draws a picture of earthly happiness, even in the case of an ungodly man, when he describes him as ’prospering in the world,’ and ’spreading himself like a green bay tree.’

I think that it will be useful to us, and interesting also, first to trace some of the peculiar features which mark the Christian’s joy, and then show its difference from worldly joy.

1. Spiritual joy comes directly from God. He alone can give it. The happiness of worldly people comes from what is around them. If their circumstances in life are prosperous — then they are happy. If they enjoy health, and freedom from pain and anxiety; if they meet with no opposition or unkindness; if all goes smoothly — then they are happy, it may be. But the Christian’s happiness is not bound up in these things. It is not accidental happiness. It does not depend on circumstances. But it comes straight from God. It is His blessed gift to His own people. It is spoken of as ’the joy of the Lord.’ Christ calls it His joy — His peace. This was His farewell legacy to His people, ’Peace I leave with you — My peace I give unto you;’ and, again, ’These things have I spoken unto you that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.’ And yet we are almost surprised to hear Christ speaking of His joy. For was He not ’a man of sorrows?’ Was not His life one of toil and tears? Where then is the joy of which He speaks, and which He prays that we may have as our portion? Are burdens, insults, sorrows, persecutions, crucifixions — joys?

Truly He was ’acquainted with grief’ as regards His outward condition. But there was within a deep well of love and joy which never failed. He delighted in His suffering errand. It is true, He was often grieved at the hardness of men’s heart. It is true, He was sometimes hungry, and thirsty, and weary — but He had ’food to eat,’ which men knew nothing of. And so it is with His people. He calls upon them to cut off right hands, and pluck out right eyes, and deny and crucify themselves, and be poor in spirit, and bear the cross after Him. And what joy, it may be asked, is there in this? How can the Christian Life be called a life of joy? Ah, but there is such a thing as ’dying — and behold we live; as chastened — and not killed; as sorrowful — yet always rejoicing; as having nothing — and yet possessing all things.’ The Christian can look up, and thank God that there is in his soul a fountain of peace, of which God Himself is the spring. It comes from Him. He is the Author and Giver of it.

2. Spiritual joy has God for its object. Not only is He the bestower of it — but He is the great object of the Believer’s delight.

We are disposed to look here, and there, and everywhere for happiness. Like the restless bee — we try one flower after another. But never can we say of any earthly thing, ’Here will I dwell. Here I find that which satisfies me.’

Very different is it with the Christian. He too, perhaps, has made many a fruitless search — but he has found peace at last. He has found it in Christ. He rests his weary soul in the Savior’s bosom, and he is happy. He feels, ’They may take away my worldly goods. My friends may forsake me. They may persecute me, bear false witness against me, take away my character. But they cannot rob me of my blessed hope — they cannot part me from my Savior!’

If then you ever feel uncomfortable and restless, do not imagine that you would be better anywhere else than where you are, or better under any other circumstances. Do not pitch upon this or that object, and imagine that if you had it — that it would bring you happiness. Do not say, ’Who will show me any good?’ But rather say, ’Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon me.’ Look upwards to Him, from whom alone real peace comes, that so among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, your heart may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found.

It may happen sometimes that you open your Bible, and get little or no good. You may turn to religious friends, but there is no comfort there. You may even come to God’s house, and find it but a barren wilderness. But go to God Himself. Go to the Savior. Rest your soul upon Him — and you are sure to find peace. ’I will go,’ said the Psalmist, ’unto the altar of God, unto God, my exceeding joy!’ Christ is ’our peace.’ ’The Lord is my portion, says my soul.’

3. This spiritual joy LASTS. Can this be said of earthly joy? No, we may have it today — but we cannot reckon upon it tomorrow. It is like the sun, which often disappears as soon as we begin to bask in its warmth. Our mind is bent on it for weeks and months. At last we obtain it, and our heart is content. But how long does it remain? Perhaps it is soon taken away again. Or, if it remains, we discover that it does not give us the pleasure we expected. And then we turn to something else, in the hope of finding enjoyment in it. But the joy we are now speaking of, when once it enters the soul, remains there. We can reckon upon it as our own. Yes, once gain this prize, and it becomes yours. It may for a time be damped, and smothered in the soul — but there it is, planted there by the hand of God Himself. Satan may disturb it now and then. Sometimes it is so weak within us, that it is hardly felt. But nothing can steal it away from that heart which God has blessed. ’Your joy, no man takes from you!’

4. It is unselfish.

Worldly joy, on the other hand, too often has self for its center. What flatters, and pleases, and exalts self — is what alone rejoices the worldly heart. But the Christian’s joy has its center in God. He finds delight in God’s service. He rejoices when God is honored. And he takes pleasure, too, in the welfare and happiness of others. The Savior seems to have found His chief joy in doing good, in relieving the sick, in comforting the mourner, and in saving souls. And we are told that a thrill of delight is felt by the very host of Heaven, when a lost sheep is received, and brought home to the fold. Such, too, is the Christian’s joy. It is unselfish. To see his Father honored — to see his fellow-men saved and happy — this brings the purest joy to his soul.

5. A fifth feature in this joy is that it depends but little on outward things.

Think of those who lived in the days of the Apostles. There was everything in their case to cast them down. All outward things were against them. But there was that within them which enabled them to rejoice in their tribulation. Instead of being filled with alarm and sadness, they were ’filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.’ So it was in all their persecutions — they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Savior’s name.

See how they bore their troubles at Philippi. What do we hear under those prison walls? Is it the dismal sound of moaning and distress? No, we hear amid the clank of chains — the voice of joy and gladness, the song of thankfulness and praise.

Again, it is said of others, that ’they took joyfully the confiscation of their goods, knowing in themselves that they had in Heaven a better and an enduring substance.’

Think of the Martyrs, too, who in later times suffered so nobly, so patiently, so cheerfully, for Christ’s sake. They welcomed the very flames that took away their lives. How was this? Were they not filled with a joy from Heaven, which man could not take from them? And I would ask you if you know what Christian joy is? When have you felt happiest? When have you drunk deepest of this heavenly joy? Not perhaps when prosperity has shone full upon you — but in some hour of trial, when the world was nothing to you, but God was everything. Then you felt the Savior near you; you saw religion to be a real thing; your heart leaped with joy; you experienced a happiness which you cannot describe.

6. This joy is often most felt in the hour of death.

How remarkable! For then it is that our earthly joys utterly fail us. When the worldling is forced to part with his friends, and his possessions — when life is ebbing fast — what is left for him? Alas! nothing. Oh, what a gloomy prospect! No wonder that such people should look upon Death as ’the king of terrors,’ and should shrink from the very thought of it. But how is it with one who knows and loves Christ? There is a peace and joy in his soul, which neither sickness, nor pain, nor even death, can weaken. He is happy — for he ’knows whom he has believed.’ He feels that he is near his home, that he is soon going to ’enter into the joy of his Lord.’

If we could have stood by Peter, or Paul, or Stephen, or ’the disciple whom Jesus loved,’ in their dying hour, I suppose we would have found them happy, very happy . . .
in the love of Christ,
in the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
and in the hope of Heaven. But are true Christians, then, always happy in a dying hour? No, I think not — not always. They have enough to make them happy. They have the spring of joy within them — but the waters do not always flow. The brightest Christian is not without his trials; and sometimes his bitterest trials, his darkest days, come at the close. Sometimes — we know not why — but sometimes the Christian’s evening is stormy and overcast. It seems as if the Savior were no longer near him. The peace he once felt is gone, when he most desires to have it. But has the Savior left His servant? Is his joy forfeited? Oh, no! That loving Friend is by his side, though he knows it not, and is ready to fill his soul with a full flood of joy, if not now, at all events when it takes its happy flight from this earthly prison.

Let our prayer be that the close of our life may be peaceful and joyous. But if God should, for some wise reason, deny us this — still let us remember that ’light is sown for the righteous,’ and that, although ’weeping may endure for a night’ — joy is sure to ’come in the morning.’

We have seen then that this joy is the Christian’s portion. It belongs to us, if we are God’s people. I do not say that we shall always have it. I do not say that one Christian partakes of it as richly as another. No, a hundred things may hinder the feeling of joy in our hearts. But seek for it. Pray that it may be yours. The Christian Life ought to be a happy life. And if it is not so with us, then most likely there is something wrong. It ought, I say, to be a most happy life — for what are the stages in it?

There is the joy of Conversion — the happy feeling of being brought near to God.

There is the joy of Forgiveness — thus we pray, ’Grant, merciful Lord, to Your faithful people pardon and peace!’

There is the joy of Adoption, the feeling that He is our Father and our Friend.

There is the joy of Faith — ’joy and peace in believing.’

There is the joy of a humble child-like Trust — knowing that we are in His safe hands.

There is the joy of a Holy Walk with God.

I will say nothing now of the joy that is set before us,’ of that ’fullness of joy’ which is at God’s right hand, and of those pleasures which ’are for evermore.’ When I speak of the Christian’s life being a happy one, I do not mean merely that it leads to bliss hereafter — but that it is a happy life now. Let us then ’lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.’ Let us not live as slaves, but as the Lord’s freemen. Let us not be always sighing as we journey heavenward; but let us ’go on our way rejoicing.’ May God’s promise be abundantly fulfilled to us, ’The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!’