NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR JOY AWAY.
In the name + of Jesus.
C:
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Americans have become sloppy with their
words. Words get misused and can even end
up with their opposite definition. A
perfect example is the word, “peruse.”
If I asked you to peruse something quickly, you would think that I mean
you should skim it. The actual
definition of “peruse” is to concentrate on the words and to soak them in. It cannot be done quickly. When someone tells you to peruse something
quickly, it is meant to be humorous. But
our misuse of it is changing its definition.
Bible translators have a difficult task in
trying to convey the Greek and Hebrew words into different languages. Some word choices are poor. For example, a proper translation of Jesus’
Sermon on the Mount is, “Blessed are the merciful… Blessed
are the pure in heart…” (Matthew 5:7-8). Some translate the word “blessed” as
“happy.” Now, a person who is blessed probably
is happy. But the translation becomes
nonsense if it is: “Happy are those who mourn… Happy are those who are persecuted… Happy are you when people insult you
and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me”
(Matthew 5:4,10,11). I would not be
happy if I were mourning, or persecuted, or insulted, or falsely accused.
“Happy” and “blessed” are different
things. Likewise, “happy” and “joy” are
different things. Happiness centers in
me. How I am being treated determines if
I am happy or not. If circumstances change,
happiness instantly becomes sorrow or anger.
Happiness comes and goes. But
your status as God’s blessed child is constant because the blessing comes from
God, not from your circumstances. So
also, joy is based on God’s promises. Since
God’s promises do not change and cannot be undone, joy remains no matter what
circumstances you face. That is why no
one can take your joy away.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus was
preparing his disciples for life without him physically being with them. He alerted them, “In a little while you
are not going to see me anymore, and again in a little while you will see me”
(John 16:16). This refers immediately
to Jesus’ death and resurrection. The
death of Jesus would result in the apostles’ sorrow and grief. Jesus told them that would happen. “Amen, Amen, I tell you: You will weep and
wail, but the world will rejoice. You
will become sorrowful” (John 16:20). They trusted that Jesus was the Messiah and
that he would usher in a kingdom which is eternal and glorious. They were kind of right. The apostles had thought in terms of an
earthly kingdom. So, when Jesus was put
to death, all their hopes and dreams died with him. But Jesus’ kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. It is established in people’s hearts. So, it is not a kingdom that can be
seen. The glory of this kingdom will not
be seen by us until we depart from this world.
But
the apostles would see Jesus again. When
Jesus rose from the dead, they would see him, speak with him, touch him, and
eat with him. Jesus would prove his
victory over the grave which assures you that your sins are forgiven. His resurrection means that the payment for
all sins is sufficient. Jesus would
prove his authority over the grave.
Death does not get the last word; Jesus does. He will raise all people from the dead, and
all who believe in him will be raised up to everlasting life and endless
glory. When the apostles saw that, their
sorrow turned to joy; and no one could take that joy away from them. Christ is risen. Therefore, his kingdom has been
established. It is a kingdom of grace and
glory in which sinners are forgiven and eternal life is secured. This promise is yours. Therefore, this joy is yours, and no one can
take your joy away.
Jesus also had said, “because I am
going away to the Father” (John 16:16). This
is included in the “In a little while you are not going to see me anymore,
and again in a little while you will see me” (John 16:16). The apostles saw Jesus for forty days; then
he ascended into heaven. They have given
their testimony, and we rejoice in it.
We have not seen Jesus, but in a little while, we will see him. Life is short. Even people who live to 100 will tell you so. Our “little while” will give way to the
everlasting kingdom Jesus has prepared for us.
When we close our eyes in death, we will open them to see Jesus. And no one can take that joy away.
But for now, we have our moments of
sorrow. Life is short, and it is often
hard. Sin produces grief and pain. Sometimes that grief and pain are
self-inflicted, as we sin against God’s word and despise ourselves for giving
into temptations yet again. Sometimes
the grief and pain come from enduring the scorn of a world that embraces the
sins we strive to flee from. St. Peter
warned that worldly people are “surprised that you do not plunge into the
same overflowing river of filth with them, and they slander you” (1 Peter 4:4). It is hard to live and work with people who
mock the Christian faith.
But such sorrows will happen. St. Paul told the Christian churches, “We
must go through many troubles on our way to the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). The apostles certainly learned this. For preaching about Jesus, they were
slandered, attacked, and died gruesome deaths.
Their lives were cut short on this earth, but not in the kingdom of
God. They endured the hardships, but no
one could take away their joy.
It is no different for you, no matter what
kind of grief or sadness you might endure.
Remember, we are not talking about happiness. Happiness depends on how you feel. And if your focus is on being happy, then you
might devote yourself to your sins.
After all, you commit sins because they make you happy. But sins do not produce any confidence or
hope. And the “happiness” that sins
bring does not last. That is why people
keep on sinning. We keep on chasing
happiness which never lasts. Repent, and
do not be deceived. Those who strive for
such happiness will be sentenced to eternal sorrow and suffering.
But no one can take your joy away. Joy depends upon Jesus’ life, death, and
resurrection. This is where we find an
enduring hope and complete confidence.
And since joy depends upon Jesus, no one can take your joy away. There is nothing in the world that can change
the perfect life Jesus lived for you.
There is no threat or problem that can nullify the death of Jesus which
has paid for all your sins. There is
nothing—not death or the devil himself—which can undo Jesus’ resurrection from
the dead. It is Jesus who has
established a kingdom that cannot be overthrown. It is Jesus who has made promises which
cannot be nullified. It is Jesus who has
made your salvation secure. No trouble,
no struggle, no enemy, no threat, not even death—no one can take your joy away.
To aid us through the griefs and sorrows
of life and to increase our joy, the Lord Jesus gives us another promise. He said, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Whatever
you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Until now you have not asked for anything in
my name. Ask, and you will receive, so
that your joy may be made complete” (John 16:23-24). This is a marvelous promise, but we need to
understand it properly so that we don’t accuse Jesus of lying to us or think
that the Lord has failed us.
Jesus told us to pray “in my name.” There are two truths to understand with those
words. The first is what it means to
pray in Jesus’ name. This is to believe
in Jesus as your Savior and as the one who has reconciled you to God the
Father. God does not automatically hear
the prayers of everyone. The prophet
Isaiah tells us why: “It is your guilt that has separated you from your God,
and your sins have hidden God’s face from you, so that he does not hear”
(Isaiah 59:2). But Jesus has taken
your sins away. Nothing separates you
from your heavenly Father. He not only
will hear your prayers, he wants you to pray to him and to cast all your cares
upon him.
You are children of the heavenly
Father. That means you are able to
approach him with all the boldness of children who ask their parents for
things. Children are not shy about
asking for anything, even for things that they know the answer will be,
“No.” “Can we have dessert before we eat
dinner?” Who knows? Maybe Mom and Dad will say, “Yes!” So, you can ask your heavenly Father for
anything, from the grandiose to the trivial.
From remission of cancer to a safe trip to seeing more butterflies in
your backyard.
That brings us to the other part of
praying in Jesus’ name. It is to pray according
to his will. God will always say, “Yes,”
to his will. In some cases, we know
exactly what God’s will is because he tells us.
He directs us in his word so that we know what to do and what to desire. If you pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you
to desire those good things, God will answer and bless because that is his will. In other cases, we don’t know what God’s will
is. Will he alleviate my
suffering? Will he silence those who
mock me? Will he provide me with a godly
spouse? We pray to our Father, and
we trust that he will do what is best for us.
Your prayer might be that God would make you happy. But God’s goal for you may not be to make you
happy, but to draw you closer to himself and to strengthen your faith by
testing it. This is one of the ways he
increases your joy—he shows you that the things that bring you momentary
happiness are not as good as the things that teach you to long for everlasting
joy.
Even if you weep and wail for a little
while, your future is unending joy. Jesus
said, “A woman giving birth has pain, because her time has come. But when
she has delivered the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, because of
her joy that a person has been born into the world” (John 16:21). So also, the grief that we experience now is
nothing compared to the joys that await us in the heavenly kingdom. That is our ultimate goal. That is what we long for and pray for. And our Lord will certainly answer those
prayers because that is what he desires, too.
When the day comes that we close our eyes in death, we will open our eyes and see Jesus. Then, our joy will be complete. You will be perfected in your thoughts and desires, and delivered from all sorrows and strife. Although your joy is not complete now, it is still sure. Then, in Christ’s eternal kingdom of grace and glory, you will not only have joy. You will be eternally happy. For, your circumstance will never change. You will see Jesus. You will dwell with the Father. And no one can or will take your joy away.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Due to recurring spam, all comments will now be moderated. Please be patient.