Joy, n: The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune,the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits. – Webster's 1828 Dictionary
There are a few things in life that just never have a satisfiable explanation, things that human reason will never be able to grasp or even comprehend. One such enigma is the Joy of Salvation. That blessed flooding of peace and happiness that burst through the thickest of sin's damns to fill the heart of the new born believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a joy that is without match, surpassing all earthly emotions and human rejoicing's. Even the Holy Bible records that we are filled with a ". . . joy unspeakable and full of glory." (I Pet. 1:8)
Having this joy is actually one of the ways we see the spirit working in and through our lives. Paul, in Galatians, writes that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Gal. 5:22) All of these things are evidence that the spirit lives within a person and is governing their lives. If we see someone that exudes these characteristics we know that they are of God: because they bear the fruit of God.
There are times, however, when our joy seems to be diminished, when our patience where's thin, or our gentleness becomes too harsh These are times when we allow ourselves to be so caught up in the cares of this life that our hearts become burdened down with the weight of sin and we feel overloaded, and unable to cope with the situations that are before us. David knew this all to well, therefore he prayed "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation." (Ps. 52:12) This joy is not something that the world can take – it must be surrendered. We must allow our spirits and minds to become entangled again with the yoke of bondage [Gal. 5:1] that Jesus Christ hath set us free from. This is the reason Paul exhorted us to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." (Heb. 12:1,2) We must keep our eyes, hearts, and minds centered in him to be able to defeat the enemy that comes to steal, kill, and destroy everything we have gained in Christ.
In order for us to keep hold of this joy, it is a necessity for Christians to understand that if comes from God; not from something we have done. It is flowing directly from the throne of the Creator of all things and that it is in him – Jesus Christ – "we live, and move, and have our being." (Acts 17:28) It is within his glorious presence alone "there is fulness of joy." (Ps. 16:11) We must declare with a shout that "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with JOY shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isa. 12:2,3) |
