How
Are Christians Happy? - Part 2
By Allan E. McNabb
Last week we began a short series on happiness, using Joseph as a role
model.
As we conclude our thoughts, I want to talk about happiness from the
perspective of our blessings.
The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-12)
Makarios is translated "blessed" and "happy," communicating
the fact that Christians are happy because of God. Therefore,
we understand that true happiness is a result of God’s blessings,
not a result of anything else.
Secularly, happiness is luck or good fortune. But as Christians
we’re happy because of God’s favor, as opposed to luck.
For example, Mary considered herself blessed (happy) because God appointed
her to bear His Son (Lk. 1:42-47).
By worldly standards she was far from blessed, because she bore a child
out of wedlock. Some people considered her a fornicator or adulterous. Even
Joseph, to whom she was betrothed, considered her a sinful woman before
learning the truth.
From Mary’s example, we see that happiness (the state of blessedness)
is a perspective. A person may consider himself happy because of
God’s blessings, or unhappy because of the world’s perspective.
Who Is Happy Upon The Earth? Why?
In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us who is blessed and therefore happy.
- Gentle
- hunger and thirst for righteousness
- Merciful
- pure in heart
- Peacemakers
- persecuted for the sake of righteousness
Jesus’ disciples should be sad and depressed by worldly standards,
but they’re happy because of their blessings:
- inherit the earth
- satisfied (filled)
- shall receive mercy
- see God
- called sons of God
- theirs is the kingdom of heaven, reward in heaven is great
Happy For Eternity
People living in sin are happy by worldly standards, but only until they
die. Then they’ll be sad for eternity, suffering eternal
punishment for their sins. Christians, though, are happy while
living upon the earth, and for eternity.
Christians are happy for eternity because they’ll rest
from their labors, rewarded for their service upon earth.
And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed
are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!”’ “Yes,” says
the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their
deeds follow with them.” (Rev. 14:13)
Christians are happy for eternity because death has no power
over them, as priests in heaven, reigning with Christ.
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection;
over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of
God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Rev.
20:6) There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of
the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will
see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there
will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light
of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine
them; and they will reign forever and ever. (Rev. 22:3-5)
Christians are happy for eternity because they’ll have
the right to the tree of life, and live in God’s eternal city forever.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right
to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. (Rev.
22:14)
Summary: The Key To Happiness
The key to happiness is loving God, casting our cares upon Him, knowing
He’s working all things together for good, as we conquer our
trials with the "peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Phil.
4:7).
Therefore we believe as Paul, with the confidence he displayed when
writing from prison, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me” (Phil. 4:13).
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