This is supposed to be the season of Joy. We see the word 'Joy' in a lot of places. We sing 'Joy to the World.' We're supposed to be joyful - full of joy.
But what is joy? C. S. Lewis says "joy is the serious business of heaven." Serious? Doesn't sound too joyful to me.
I've written before that happiness is based on our circumstances. If everything is going well, we tend to be happy. If things are not going well, we tend to be less happy.
The Bible often associates joy with things that don't seem that great, that happy.
James 1:2 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 10:34 (NIV)
You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NIV)
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit...
Sure looks to me that joy is something different than happiness because the circumstances mentioned in the above scriptures don't appear too appealing to me.
C. S. Lewis gives a hint to the meaning of joy in this quote:
In his book, "Surprised by Joy," Lewis describes his coming to faith. He described a feeling, a sense of longing that I could relate to. When I was a little kid, my father worked long hours. He would often be gone when I woke up and would not return home until late. As a little kid, I didn't understand my feelings. I missed my father. In adult terms I longed for his presence. Nothing in my little world could be a substitute for my father's presence.
This longing, this desire for something outside of the realm of our senses is what Lewis defined as joy. As Christians, we long for our heavenly home. We long for the reality of being in the presence of our heavenly father. We long to walk and talk with Jesus. This longing is joy.
When we describe Christmas as the season of joy, we sense that it is a season of longing for that which is not yet here. The kingdom that is here, but not yet fully come.
Joy to the world, the Lord has come - and will come again. Let us long for, desire his return.
Have a joy-filled, longing for, Christmas.
1 comment:
Think we need to rethink our mission or does it still work?!
Bringing Pure Happiness to Children. That would be fine. :)
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