JOY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Romans 5:11

Morning Meditation 11/22/17

"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

There is nothing that man wants more than joy. People gamble and hope to win big so they can retire and fulfil all their dreams of joy. They think traveling will bring them joy. They think laying around on a beach in some south sea island will bring them joy. They think owning a mansion and an expensive sports car will bring them joy. They think money will buy all of this. Men have a wrong view of what it takes to make one happy.. The ones who have this money, may seem to you to have great joy. If so why don't they show it? Why do they get on dope and commit suicide? Why do the stars, as a whole, divorce and remarry only to do it over again. They are so selfish and miserable that they can't build a decent relationship with anyone. The problem is, as the poor people watch the rich and famous, they see all of this and think it would be different with them. They fact is they are defeated to start with. The Bible from Genesis to Revelation plainly tells us that money and fame are connected with crime and death. Having eyes we do not see and having ears we do not hear.

Let's notice the real causes for joy from God's viewpoint:

JOY OVER A GIVEN SALVATION

If there is one thing man is a miserable failure at, it is trying to be right with God in his own strength. He needs a salvation that is out of the reach of purchase. You cannot purchase salvation. Psa 49:7, "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:"

This is God talking. One is wasting his time trying to attain salvation by his own power. But man will try even though God says he can't do it. Cain tried to buy God off. God had told him the right kind of sacrifice to offer but he deliberately challenged God's right to say what it takes for man to be forgiven.

However we have Biblical illustrations and the joy that comes to the man who receives a given salvation. I mean by this that God gives you salvation and you receive it by faith. When it comes you know it is given and not earned and suddenly you realize God loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him in the place called heaven.

He confirms the gift by giving every believer the Earnest of the Spirit. Ephesians 1:13, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," God does not only want to give us salvation, He wants us to have the assurance that we have it now. So the Holy Spirit becomes Himself the Seal of our eternal salvation. Then next--

THERE IS GREAT JOY IN HIS KEEPING POWER

John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

1. We are His sheep and are in hearing distance to the Lord.

2. We follow Him. It should be an uncommon thing for a sheep to stray from the fold and follow some other false shepherd.

3. He gives His sheep eternal life. This is a gift. Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

4. He gives them a guarantee: "they shall never perish."

5. He assures us that no man is able to pluck them out of His hand.

Then next--

THERE IS JOY OVER THE PROSPECTS OF SALVATION

I have heard the joyous testimonies of those who have just been saved. And I'll tell you it is a blessing to hear when the experience is fresh. But somehow the fire goes out most of the time. Then the testimonies get stale.

The truth of the matter the New Birth is just the start. The prospects of salvation are stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." There will be a grand reunion day. I so look forward to that. I'm sure you do. We will see Jesus and all the redeemed.

Much more could be said. This will give you preachers a start. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White