Joy that surpasses the present

As I sit here contemplating the sermon for Sunday, I’m struck by how vague my understanding of Joy is. 

The almighty Google defines Joy as follows.

joy

noun

1. A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
2. “tears of joy.”
3. Similar:
4. delight
5. great pleasure

*I only included the top five examples it gives.*

verb

LITERARY

1. Rejoice.
2. “I felt shame that I had ever joyed in his discomfiture or pain.”

 In our day to day lives, joy takes on a relatively simple meaning. For example, I find joy in eating Sushi. This fact about Josh has little significance outside of the personal, temporary joy Sushi brings me. It has no impact on you, little on my future or past, and certainly nothing to do with eternity.

In contrast, the joy I find in Christ has massive implications in my life and yours as well. Sushi can’t cover over 2020. It’s a fact, 2020 stinks in many ways. So many that even my not insignificant love for good food can overcome the obstacles in our way. Here is why. Sushi only brings me joy when it satisfies my stress and hunger. Eventually, no matter how hard I try to eat more Sushi. No matter how much money I spend on getting more. Sushi will end. With it will end the joy that I receive. Sushi is a simple example that works mainly because I’m hungry right now. After this Blog, I think Sushi is calling my name. You can replace Sushi with Money, Sex, Drugs, Gossip, Lust, Work, Family, Friends, and the list goes on. Sometimes, the list items are beneficial and uplifting, and others drag us down into the gutters.

Here is what they all have in common. They are temporary. Those areas of joy will end. Your family will move away and pass away. Your friendships will end. Your job will change. Your money will run out, and your High will come back down. The sex will end, and the guilt will go forward. They all end eventually.

But joy in the context of Christ is different!

It is not affected by what you’re eating or drinking. This joy will not fade away or run low like your bank account near Christmas. It will last as long as the source does, and our God is eternal. The circumstances around us may be desperate, but the basis of our joy is bountiful. Joy in Christ looks past the temporary pain, the temporary separation, the temporary addictions and says, “I PLACE MY JOY IN SOMETHING ETERNAL!” 

As we come into a season that seems equal parts Joy and Despair, I want to encourage you that your God is a wellspring of Joy and Hope. Suppose you are in pain right now. If this is the first Christmas without a loved one, a Christmas without gifts, a Christmas devoid of joy, then look past the gifts and the decorations. Look to the joy we find in Christ alone. Take a look at what Scripture has to say about it. 

1 Peter 1:8

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy

Take hold of it. Proclaim it. 

I look so forward to seeing everyone again this Sunday! 

Josh Tufte