April 9, 2019 – Click here to listen
Happiness, billions pursue it few ever realize it. I am the acquaintance of many very wealthy people and it seems that they don’t enjoy happiness any more than those who are barely getting by and in many cases not as much. I know one gentleman who probably doesn’t even have an idea of how much he owns. He has bought palatial estates, huge ranches, super yacht, luxury jets, and about everything one can name, however, he seems miserable. He always has a drink in his hand and walks around inebriated and is obnoxious and arrogant. He has five girlfriends who are aware of each other and shares time with them on a rotating basis and in spite of the riches he lavishes upon them they seem as miserable as him. He is an avowed atheist and a bitter man.
C. S. Lewis wrote: What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could “be like gods”—could set up on their own as if they had created themselves—be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
Happiness should not be anyone’s goal because it is unachievable. No one can be happy all of the time. After all there is a time to mourn and a time to grieve among other smile killers. The real goal should be joy. We can know joy even as we endure trials and tribulations. The best example was when Jesus faced the terrible crisis of crucifixion and yet Hebrews 12:2 tells us…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. Jesus knew joy in the midst of the darkest hour on the planet. He kept his eyes on the same place we should, His Father in heaven. What sustained Christ in the dark hours of Gethsemane was the hope of joy beyond the cross. No matter the crisis that you face today, you can realize the joy of the cross and knowing that your glorious future lies ahead in heaven too.
Satan is the author of unhappiness even when he has the entire world to offer us. Only God can give us true joy which supersedes the temporal shallow happiness of money and material things. God is the author of true happiness as in joy.
Matt. 26:39
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”