John 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

If there is one thing that is common between us all, it’s the fact that we all want to be happy.  We all want to feel content.  We all want to have peace of mind.

Sadly, many pursue these things via avenues that lead only to dead ends.  The avenues of the world (the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes – 1 John 2:15-17) make big promises and, many times, deliver for a time, but ultimately leave us right where we began…discontent, stressed out, and unhappy.

You see, the world offers us what I like to call “joy cookies.”  Little morsels of “joy” that last for a moment, but leave us wanting more.  A promotion at work.  A new car.  Hooking up with a random stranger at a party.  Getting drunk.  Getting high.  Pulling off a clever heist.  Getting away with a lie.  All of these give pleasure for a season, but cannot truly satisfy.  As such, those who rely on joy cookies for happiness, contentment, and peace of mind, find themselves addicted, overweight, and miserable.  Most importantly, such things separate us from God (Rom. 6:23; Isa. 59:1-2).

Now, let me be clear…God does want us to enjoy life here on the earth and the fruit of our labor.  Solomon wrote that “it is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. (Eccl. 5:18-19)

Not everything that brings about momentary joy here on the earth is necessarily evil (succeeding in one’s career, for example).  What we must realize, however, is that such things, in and of themselves, can never truly make us fulfilled.  We’ll always want more.  Something newer…something bigger and better.

Did you catch what Jesus said about the joy He offers in the quoted passage above?  It is a joy that is full.  Not mostly full or nearly full, but full.  The joy that is offered to us through Christ isn’t just a tiny morsel that we have to ration so as not to run out.  It is an abundant joy.  It is a joy that comes through freedom from sin (which is lawlessness – 1 John 3:4) and a loving relationship with God through His Son, Jesus.

Romans 5:6-11 – For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Jesus stated in John 10:10 that He came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  Not a life filled with an abundance of things, but an abundance of love and hope (Eph. 3:14-19; 1 Pet. 1:3).  Christ offers peace that passes understanding even in the midst of life’s various difficulties (Phil. 4:6-7; John 16:33) and contentment despite one’s physical circumstances (Phil. 4:11-13).

You see, Christ wants you to be happy, but not just for a time.  He wants you to be eternally happy.  Such is accomplished by fulfilling the purpose for which you were created: to glorify God and reflect His purity and righteousness (Eccl. 12:13; Isa. 43:7).  Sin makes this impossible.  However, Christ died to remove the penalty of sin and create us anew.  To give us a new beginning.

2 Cor. 5:21 – For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Eph. 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Would you put on Christ and find true joy?  Would you stop wasting your time with joy cookies and start consuming that which truly satisfies?

Isa. 55:1-3 – Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live;

Gal. 3:26-27 – For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.