What is your greatest joy in life? Would you mind giving an honest answer to that question right now?
Before you continue reading this article, pause for a moment. And with your eyes closed, ponder a bit on the above question.
Once you have come up with an answer you are convinced about, hold it up against the brilliant light of the Scripture quoted below. (The purpose of doing that is to ensure that what you hold as your greatest joy on earth properly aligns with what God says should be your greatest joy).
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23-24.
From the above passage of the Scriptures, you can see at least three reasons to glory in life:
- Intelligence – The wise man glories in his wisdom;
- Strength – The mighty one glories in his might;
- Wealth – The rich man glories in his riches.
But God wants the reason for your joy to be beyond the fact that you possess some high level of wisdom, intellectual power, physical strength, wealth or achievements in life.
He wants you to rejoice in the fact that you know Him as “the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth.”
If your greatest joy is based on the things of the world, then your joy will be temporary. But a joy based on your knowing God will have no ending.
I first began to perceive the truths of Jeremiah 9:23-24 at a crucial point in time during my undergraduate days.
One mid-morning like that while reading my Bible, the scripture quoted above literally leapt off the pages of the Bible right into my heart with a force so meaningful that I was left without any iota of doubt on the fundamental reason I should glory in life.
I was doing relatively well in school then, despite the harsh academic environment of that time. My grades were moving up against all odds. I thought that was a good reason to praise God.
“Yes, it was,” you might want to agree with me. But God had to put things in better perspectives for me. He graciously showed me that there was a greater reason I had to rejoice than academic progress.
Now I know better… so I am sharing it with you, with the hope that you will see some light in it too.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, your greatest joy in life should not be based on the fact that you passed your exams, you got promoted at work, you bought a dream car, moved into your dream home, married your dream spouse, or had some other great goals you have accomplished.
Those are not bad reasons to be joyful. But your joy has to be based on something of eternal significance and not on things of ephemeral value. It has to be based on your relationship with God, not on things of the world.
For emphasis sake, l will have to say it again:
- Your greatest joy should be that you know the Lord.
- Your greatest joy should be the joy of your salvation.
- Your greatest joy should be that your name is written in the Book of Life.
Jesus validated this position during one of the feedback conversations He had with His disciples as recorded in the Gospels.
According to the account in Luke chapter 10, Jesus had sent out seventy-two of His followers to go preach the gospel of the Kingdom around the neighbouring towns and villages. These specially appointed men went out and accomplished the evangelistic mandate given to them by their Master.
More so, they returned with joyful testimonies, declaring that demons were subjected to them in the name of Jesus.
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
You would have thought that the identified reason these rookie evangelists were filled with joy was good enough for them to rejoice as they did. But Jesus raised the bar when He responded to them saying, “…do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
“That your name is written in Heaven should be your greatest joy,” Jesus says.
Therefore, whatever you are able to accomplish on earth – whether in spiritual or secular things – should not be your greatest joy. Neither should your joy be in what this world can offer you. Rather your greatest joy should be that your name is written in the book of life in Heaven.
If you are not sure your name is there already in the book of life, you can get it in by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour now. There is no other way to achieve that.
What is your greatest joy in life? Share your views.
©CopyRight 2017 | Victor Uyanwanne
