Human Joy—The Joy of the Lord

Human Joy—The Joy of the Lord

Joy speaks to every person, and everyone would rather be happy if given the choice. It is delightful to be happy; therefore it is natural for people to seek joy. True joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work with people. Human joy, which you experience by giving in to your lusts, is essentially a lie. It is not genuine, true joy, but it feels like it because it is a momentary enjoyment of sin. It entices people into corruption by repeatedly having to satisfy their lusts in order to be happy. Generally speaking, people do not realize this. They do not want to realize it; all they want is to follow their natural longing for joy.

There are instances of God working with people by taking away their joy and making them sick and tired of life, in order to help them to get saved. Then, if a person seeks consolation where true consolation is to be found—namely, with Jesus Christ—God has gained the victory in this contest, unto peace and joy for the one who has achieved it. Therefore, having such a grieving heart can have an exceedingly good effect, for time and eternity. The person will always receive full value, in the form of God’s blessing, for the cheerless time he experienced.

It is written that “if anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17. And some of this new thing is joy. What is this new joy? It is that we have gone from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and that it is granted to us to keep His word and do His will. Previously our joy was in giving in to our lusts; now we understand that all corruption comes through lust, and we flee from it.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28. When all things are working together for our good, it is entirely reasonable that we rejoice. And when it is written “all things,” there is no exception! That means all kinds of good things and seemingly bad things, and who, then, cannot but be happy? All kinds of toil bring delightful results, as it is written, “He shall see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied” (Isa. 53:11)—with joy over what He sees, of course! Then it is no longer this world and its goods that make us happy, but that we have a pure conscience before God and walk with each other in love and humility and meekness. Let us examine ourselves, dear friends, and seek true and eternal joy, which is our strength, and seek more of it. Neh. 8:10.