Joy of Eternal Life

A Little While

Jesus told His disciples that in a little while they would not see Him and in a little while they would see him. The disciples did not understand what He was talking about but were hesitant to ask him. There are three predominate thoughts on what He was talking about. John Calvin believes that Jesus was talking about His bodily absence being replaced by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Augustine believes Jesus was talking about the church age and Jesus second coming. He believes that the time of the church is the time of sorrow and the second coming is the time of joy. The predominate belief is Jesus was talking about His crucifixion and resurrection over the next three days.

Though these beliefs are different I can see where all three could be true. However, for today’s purpose I lean to the three day belief based on the context. Jesus was going to be crucified the next day. This would cause tremendous sorrow for the disciples because of the death of their Lord Jesus. The world would rejoice at his death because they thought He was a fraud and was not the son of God.

Jesus also told them that their mourning would turn into joy. When they saw Jesus in His resurrected body they were full of Joy.

Today’s sorrow to Joy

The resurrection of Jesus today is much like it was the three days that Jesus was referring to with the disciples. The days of sorrow for a person are the days that they live in the absence of Jesus and the days of joy are when they enter into that blessed relationship with the resurrected Jesus. Let me elaborate on this a little more.

When a person lives apart from Jesus they must face this world alone. We all know that the world we live in is very difficult and hard because of the sinful heart of man. Every one is out for themselves with no regard for morality, godliness, or others. The only thing they have to bring peace in their soul is what the world has to offer. Things like money, sex, power, popularity. None of these things will bring peace to the soul and are never as satisfying as we believe they will be. This is a state of sorrow. This is living for the world.

James 4:1–4 NASB95

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15–17 NASB95

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

What the world offers and promises will not bring peace and rest for your soul. It is quite the opposite. The pursuit of the world leads to greater sorrow.

Conversely, the person that receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior receive that which their soul craves. This is peace with God and satisfaction of the soul. Jesus explains it this way in parables Matthew 13:44-46

Matthew 13:44–46 NASB95

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

This is the person that is free from the pursuit of the world because his soul is satisfied in Jesus. The parables teach us that the one who finds Jesus is willing to joyfully give up everything to posses that relationship with Him.

Where are you this morning? Do you find that your relationship with Jesus is enough or do you still long and seek for the things of this world to bring your satisfaction?

Sorrow to Joy

Jesus gives the illustration of a woman giving birth. When a woman goes into labor the pain of labor is intense. I am not speaking from experience obviously, but of observation. However, once that child is born the mother quickly forgets the pain because of the joy of the child.

Jesus was essentially telling his disciples that as he was being crucified and dying the sorrow of His death would be much like the pain of a woman in labor. If you have ever lost someone close to you in death you know of the pain I am speaking. It doesn’t seem to be physical pain but it is a pain that illicit sorrow and tears. It hurts the soul and the heart. Unlike a physical pain that can be removed with medical treatment, sorrowful pain can only be removed by the Lord.

He was also telling them when they saw Him resurrected that their joy would far outweigh the sorrow they went through during his death.

There may be times in our lives where our joy may seem to diminish. However there is a way to restore our joy.

How to get Joy when you have sorrow

Fight for Joy

John Piper offers 15 Biblical things we must do to fight for joy. (I can only list them today, and commend to you his book, "When I Don’t Desire God.") This list reminds me that faith does not produce inactivity, but God-centered activity:

1) Realize that authentic joy in God is a gift

2) Realize that joy must be fought for relentlessly

3) Resolve to attack all known sin in your life

4) Learn how to fight like a justified sinner

5) Realize that the battle is primarily a fight to see God for who he is

6) Meditate on the word of God day and night

7) Pray earnestly and continually for an inclination

8) Learn to preach to yourself rather than listen to yourself

9) Spend time with God-saturated people who help you see God and fight the fight

10) Be patient in the night of God's seeming absence

11) Get the rest, exercise, and diet your body needs

12) Make a proper use of God's revelation in nature

13) Read great books about God and biographies of great saints

14) Do the hard and loving thing for the sake of others—witness and mercy

15) Get a global vision for the cause of Christ and pour yourself out for the unreached.

When Jonathan Edwards was accused of promoting emotionalism in God's people, he wrote ("Some Thoughts Concerning the Revival in the Great Awakening"): "I should think myself in the way of my duty, to raise the affections of my hearers as high as I possibly can, provided they are affected with nothing but truth, and with affections that are not disagreeable to the nature of what they are affected with."

From a sermon by Glenn Durham, "A Dynamic Church Worships Joyfully" 8/5/2008

Sorrow Today But Joy Tomorrow

Jesus finally told his disciples that they would have temporary grief but the joy to follow would be everlasting. John 16:22

John 16:22 NASB95

“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

The disciples would see the resurrected body of Jesus Christ. It would so fill them with joy that ultimately it would cost them their life. This experience was something that changed the trajectory of their lives. They would tell everyone about Jesus and what they experienced.

You can have joy today

Is your soul absent of the joy that comes in Jesus? Does sorrow often characterize your life? You can be free today to experience a joy that will be everlasting. It is not easy to do, but I will share with you how you can do it.

First, understand that God loves you so much that he gave His only begotten son to die on a cross to pay the punishment for your sin.

Second, understand that you are a sinner that has rebelled against God and need to repent.

Third, Repent of your sin and ask God for forgiveness. Repent means to have an inward desire to change from being a sinner to following Jesus. Submit to the lordship of Jesus

Fourth, Ask Jesus to save you and give you everlasting life through salvation.