I always thought this walk would consist of an unending series of trials and tribulations and suffering, for the sake of loving Him and each other, both the brethren and the lost - with only few and infrequent periods of joy. Wouldn't that be the best definition of bearing our own crosses and following Him? Well, I believe I was partially correct.
And I discovered that, like you guys and by His grace, that I was indeed willing to endure what to me were the most severe tests of my faith just in the hope of pleasing Him, and for the assurance that enduring joy was waiting for me in the next life.
Little did I know that, however, just like C.S. Lewis, I was about to be "surprised by joy" in THIS life. In fact, I had been praying to the Lord that, um, if He didn't mind, if it could possibly be in His will, hope that He didn't mind me asking - could I possibly, maybe, experience that joy a little more often and a bit more consistently?
Well, fast forward to today. I experience that joy every single day, I kid you not, no matter what the circumstances are. And what is so thrilling to me is that, when we are ready and He is pleased to do so, He actually reveals to us the source of that joy, after we are already experiencing it (at least that's how it happened to me).
I always thought that it happened when the Holy Spirit kinda just overwhelmed our spirit in a kind of nebulous way that we couldn't understand - and kind of randomly for no discernable reason.
But after God had enabled me to walk with Him consistently and in greater measure than I could have imagined, He revealed why it was happening...
Obedience. Simple obedience.
Which has been challenging because in my carnal state, I'm similiar to a wild oxen, yoked to a more experienced, steady, superior oxen. It's taken a few decades to get here, but prayerfully I have risen to a higher level in that, through obedience, I am able to affirm that, yes, Jesus' yoke IS easy, and His burden IS light.
Faith and obedience, two sides of the same coin. Who'd a thunk it?
And one of the benefits of experiencing this joy is a new ability to recognize it in other believers. You know, like I do in you guy's testimony here. The world just doesn't understand why we expend so much energy praising Him. But we do. It's just impossible to do anything other than that as He reveals more and more of just Who He is. Beautiful, holy, pure, righteous and BRILLIANT. Entirely sovereign, yet just like His Son, the heart of a servant.
I have to confess, though I didn't think I could dare ask Him directly, that a question formulated in my mind, "why didn't He reveal the source of joy to me years ago?". Well as in all things, He heard my thought, and was delighted to reply.
Um, listen up, bub. That's exactly what I did. You just kept skimming over the Scripture and forgetting it because every time you re-read it, you declared for yourself that it may apply to every other believer, but it couldn't possibly apply to you. Not the most morose, depressed, perpetual pessimist to walk the earth, with the permanent black cloud over his head. Well now that you've arrived, gird up your loins and get ready to rejoice over yet another promise that I've kept:
John 15:9-17 NKJV
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love."
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another."
I believe every single word. This is exactly what I'm experiencing today. And I'm betting it is happening for a goodly number of my fellow believers. And for those who have yet to fully arrive, hang in there, for not only is He willing, I sincerely believe that that is exactly what He plans to do for ALL of His children.
Ya know, I like to imagine a certain scenario in the future. Not supported fully by Scripture, just something I would like to see.
I like to imagine that moment when we finally stand before His throne. He burns up all of our bad works (good riddance, never have to dwell on them again - especially as our Chief Accuser is nowhere to be found, nor will be for all of eternity). And then our Master, and Best Friend, says:
Matthew 25:34-36 NIV
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’"
Also at this time we will experience the following:
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen."
Note a key phrase here: "... And to PRESENT you..."
I figure this is before all the Heavenly angels, the elders, the witnesses, the powers, principalities and all the Heavenly hosts. The ones who have observed us, protected us and fought for us from the womb to the grave and beyond, and this is what I like to imagine them all thinking or even shouting with glee:
Surely this is God's most precious creation. He was worth the life of His only begotten Son. Not only that, His Son was then able to lead him all the way to his heavenly home, simply because he could recognize the sound of His voice.
I'll say it again, BRILLIANT!
Of course, God writes a better script than my poor imagination could dream up, so I, along with you, look forward to the Grand Finale with eager anticipation! The end of this challenging chapter, and the beginning of the second more perfect chapter that will never end.
God bless us all!
