JOY, UNSPEAKABLE JOY

A famous philosopher, whose name escapes me at the moment, is said to have written three pages in his journal with nothing but the word “joy” on them upon his conversion to Christianity.  He was apparently known for his rather melancholy disposition and when Christ entered his life a joy that he had never before known also entered his life.

I have seen happy people come to Christ and their lives seem not to change all that much as far as their joy goes.  I have seen the “worst” of sinners come to Christ and their lives have changed completely and they have found joy outside of drugs and abuse.  What we know for certain about the Christian life is that it comes with a joy the non-believing world does not know and can never understand.  

Joy is something that undergirds the life of the believer.  Joy contrasts with happiness in the same way in the same way Scripture contrast the man who built his house on the rock with the man who built his house on sand.  The biblical illustration is clear if you understand what a Wadi is. A Wadi is a dry river bed found in the Middle East.  It seems peaceful enough since it hardly ever rains where you find them.  It looks like a great place for a house; wide, flat with plenty of room to let the kids play.  Unfortunately, when it rains 20 miles away and the waters begin to collect and rush downhill, the Wadi you built your house in becomes a raging river.  Because of the nature of sand – your house is now gone.  If you build a house on a rock (The Rock) then when the rains come your foundation is not moved and your house remains.  This is the way happiness and joy are; happiness can be washed away by the rains of the week, day, even the hour or minute.  Joy is part of the foundation that everything is laid upon; of course this type of joy on comes with Christ.  He is the Cornerstone and Foundation, and He brings a joy that can never be taken from us, because it, just like His love, is eternal.

Where is your joy, or are you still just hoping to have happiness?  I wouldn’t build my house there if I were you!