S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Some people imagine God as a cruel task master opposed to all fun or pleasure. To them, He is the God of all-seriousness or the God of rules. But this is not an accurate, biblical picture of God. G...

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July 01 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Gerritt Schuitema Persecutor & Mocker transformed to Faithful Believer

I am going to speak from experience here, but only because I believe scripture backs it up. What is at the root of your pleasures? Is it self, or is it God? I mean, what brings you joy, and what is at the root of those activities, in you?

Harvard did a study not too long ago that proves humans are hard wired for worship. Think about this. We praise things all day long. We praise football teams, we praise new or vintage cars, we praise homes and TV's and TV shows, we praise movies or music, we praise celebrities and people we don't even know. And a good question is, why? CS Lewis had an interesting take on this, and said something to this effect, 'we praise these things, because it completes our joy in that thing.'

Let that sink in for a moment. Now, ask yourself, "Where is your joy coming from?" What do you praise? Why do we praise and place our joy in that which will pass away? Why do we store up treasure for ourselves here, in this world? 

A truly converted heart, by grace through faith, is guided by the Spirit, and when led by the Spirit, we become the children of God (Rom 8:14). And when led by the Spirit, we receive the fruit of the Spirit. Joy, peace, and love among others (Gal 5:22-23). This joy we receive, is that Spirit of Joy and love and peace, that has eternally existed between the Father and the Son. And we know and are sure, that the Spirit is our payment until the day of our glorification. And we are to be led by this Spirit, for Nehemiah testifies 'the joy of the LORD is your strength.'

So, why worry about carnal, worldly pleasures? For they lead us to praise and worship that which is created over the Creator. Why not, instead, place our hope and our joy in that which is infinite and never changing? 

Jesus Christ emptied himself, and came down, and endured the cross. Endured beating and mocking, endured spikes driven through hands and feet, was publicly hung in front of people who hated and reviled Him. Was fed vinegar... Vinegar. Labored to breathe under the weight of His body on His chest, with each breathe scrapping the splintered wood behind Him until he was speared through, and He did all this for the 'joy' set before Him. (Heb 12:2). This is worth our praise. This purchased us everlasting, ever increasing, ever abounding Joy for not a week, not a month or a year, but 10,000 ages and ages to come, forever. 

Where is our joy? From experience, mine went from drugs, sex, competition, praise and adoration of men, to God in Jesus Christ. And not by my will, but this change was given to me. That my life would be to the praise of the greatness of the glory of His grace. So I will praise my God, that God may increase and make my joy and my pleasure in Him abound, forever, world without end. Per John Piper, 'God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied, in Him. 

May the Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you all.

September 26 2014 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report