You have never known true happiness, you do not carry within you the capacity to retain true happiness on a continuous level, no one does. Your marriage day, the birth of your children, watching a puppy grow into a trusted friend, all these are just moments in time that can bring happiness when recalled or experienced, but this too shall pass. No one can live in a continual state of bliss in this life.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11) Here is one of Satan’s greatest attacks, and one of the greatest faults of many who stand behind the pulpit, they have modified the word joy to mean happiness, the search for perpetual contentment, the search for a life with no adverse conditions placed upon it, and it has bred a false type of Christian, one who believes that offending is a sin, one who sees the character traits of reproving and correcting as against the precepts of God. Careful Christians rarely fight in the most dangerous battles.
Happiness is fleeting, it is meant to be that way, for if you can find happiness in this world, then you are seeking for that which can be guaranteed to be lost. “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” (Psalm 144:15) The joy of the Lord can only be found in the Lord, it is the assurance that you are and always will be a child of the Most High, heirs to the kingdom of heaven, it brings with it a confidence that cannot be shaken, cannot be overthrown, and will remain as truth for all eternity. That is happiness. Happiness does not create joy; it can only come from joy.
Without the steadfast knowledge, the assurance without question of this truth, you will never know happiness. Everyone in hell right now understands these truths, not one of them has fond memories that bring a smile to their lips, not one of them will ever be happy again, not for a single moment.
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10) “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17)
Happiness arrives with joy, even in the most dire of circumstances every single born-again believer has the joy of the Lord, it is the one part of the future that creates happiness within us, no matter the current trials and tribulations, no matter the pain, sorrow and suffering, we know for a fact without question that Jesus is waiting to take us home forever, of this there is no doubt. And so, we rejoice, our joy is full, and we are happier than any can imagine, we have a peace that passes all understanding. (Phil. 4:7)
Those who have been crucified with Christ, those that thirst and hunger for righteousness are shown the unrighteousness of this world, they proclaim the name of the Lord to those who mock His name, they know frustration, and so they know this joy that awaits better than some. They yearn for it, for they spend much time in that dry and thirsty land.
I have met far too many happy Christians these last few years, and when the correct questions are posed for them, their happiness is found to rest in how the Lord has blessed them materialistically and physically, not in the knowledge that He lives. They have generally seen these conversations as coming from one they consider pessimistic, one who will not see the wonders of this sinful, evil world. They are forcing a worldly optimism upon themselves and do not even realize it.
Are you aware that in the nations of the world where our brothers and sisters in Christ are being tortured and killed for their faith, when they are asked what they pray for those in nations who are at rest from this type of persecutions, their answer is that we would face trials and tribulations? Who do you believe are the happier ones?
