What brings you real joy?
As I visit with hospital staff, we talk about life’s struggles and joys. One staff showed me their family photos, another talked about her passion for nature photography, and others beamed when I asked about their children. We were delighted when our good friend Thuong (pictured with Marcia) came in on her day off to visit us. We became friends nearly three years ago when she delivered supplies to my hospital room. What brings Thuong joy? To make others happy! You can tell that just from seeing her winsome smile and loving hug with Marcia. She has such a dear heart.
In 1 John 1, we read the account of Jesus from one of the eye witnesses who saw him face to face, talked with him, ate with him, listened to him, followed him, and no doubt had some great times of sharing his joy. The author of the letter tells us this “to make our joy complete.” (V 4)
You might ask, why does Jesus make our joy complete? Aren’t there a lot of people who seem pretty happy without Jesus in their life? Sure. In fact, there are plenty of Christians who should have complete joy but live defeated lives. I know because I used to be one! So what gives?
I think one reason the good news of Jesus makes our joy complete is because Jesus spans the entire saga, from beginning to end, of God’s great love story we call The Bible. The gospel of John starts by saying:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, Jesus is the central figure in God’s plan to bring us his complete joy. God knew we would find plenty of ways to find temporary happiness, but only one way to find a joy that is full in this life, despite whatever troubles come upon us, and full for all eternity. For thousands of years, people have been trying to find their way to God through education and knowledge, philosophy, good works, religion, or by just being a decent person.
The problem is we all fall short of the goal. None of us is as good as we think. Certainly, not me. We’re reminded we easily deceive ourselves to thinking we are really good, when in fact we often aren’t. He describes God as “the light” in which there is no darkness. . . at all! There is no way we can live in the dark recesses of our shame, our fears, and anxieties and still walk in God’s light. It’s one or the other if we want complete joy.
… Joy made possible through fellowship with the author of our joy, God, and his Son Jesus:
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and…Jesus, who forgives us from ALL sin.” (V 6-7)
Maybe you’re thinking of some whoppers you think he can’t handle. But you’d be wrong. He can – and will – handle whatever you bring to him with an honest heart and desire to follow him.
The answer to finding complete joy isn’t found in a set of religious rules. It’s not uncovered by simply trying to do enough good things to outweigh the selfish and bad ones. It’s certainly not found by searching the world’s libraries of knowledge and philosophy. True and everlasting complete joy is found in one thing:
True fellowship with our loving God, made possible through his Son Jesus.
Fellowship. Not rules.
Free gift from a loving Father, not earned.
It’s yours and mine for the asking, but it’s our choice.
Believers or not, we can choose to walk in the darkness of ignoring God, rebelling against him, or even denying his power to give us victory over the things that kill our joy.
OR …
We can choose to walk in his light, believing him, trusting him, and living the way that will really bring us complete joy…now and forever.
