Joy To The World

“And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11)

“All men seek happiness, This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. They will never take the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.” – Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal, the French philosopher, made it extremely clear that humanity is always in search of happiness or joy; and there are no exception! He even acknowledged hanging oneself as an attempt to achieve happiness. Of course, he was going to great length to pictorially explain how humanity will do anything to be happy. In all fairness however, Pascal went on to say that happiness or joy can't be acquired without faith. "And yet, after such a great number of years, no one without faith has reached the point to which all continually look. All complain princes and subjects, noblemen and commoners, old and young, strong and weak, learned and ignorant, healthy and sick, of all countries, all times, all ages, and all conditions".  He (Pascal) implied that there is nothing within humanity's surroundings or within human effort that can bring happiness or joy.

Joy comes from God. Or better yet joy comes from being with or in God. There are joyous things that may come to us, but they will not produce continual or consistent happiness. Most of us can agree that these things often expire or lose their initial luster or excitement. However, the one thing that never loses its ability to foster joy is Jesus. When he was being introduced to the world, the angel said: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus is the permanent and perpetual Joy that was given to the world; and in John15:11 he clearly says that having him, or his joy, in us will make our joy complete: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full”. Being associated, and in relationship, with Jesus can bring a life of joy.
Unlike other things in life, Jesus doesn’t change. Jesus' involvement or interaction with us does not fluctuate like our relationships with other people. Jesus sees us as indispensable and will not jeopardize the covenant relationship he has with us even when we struggle to live up to the potential or standards of our covenant requirements. Jesus constantly chooses to maintain relationship with his people even when his people don’t make that same choice for him. "If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). We can be joyous with Christ because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"(Hebrew 13:8). Jesus' wish for us to have joy was realized in his willingness to sacrifice his life for us.

Now, of course, there are evil forces at work that try to hamper and hinder the believer from having joy. There are life situations that happen that can make you think that joy is not possible. But, the joy that comes from and in God cannot be taken away by the evil one or the forces of evil. The joy of Jesus remains, for before his crucifixion Jesus said to his disciples "The sadness you have right now is similar to [the pain of childbirth], but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you" (John 16:22).

God so desires for us to be happy and joyous that he continually offers his son, Jesus, to the world as a gift; and whoever receives God's Son can have salvation, life and joy."For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). With that being said, we should respond to the command and suggestion of the psalmist: "take delight in the Lord" (Psalm 37:4). In other words be happy in the Lord for so much has been given so that we can be happy or joyous. In closing, if we grab hold to the joy that is promised to us this joy will be our strength until we see our Savior face to face (see Neh. 8:10).

"Joy to the world the Lord is come"

Prayer: Lord thank you for coming to the world that I may know and have authentic joy. I love you and the joy I have in you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God's Peace and Good Journey!
+t. anthony bronner