joy to the world!

Joy.  Such a small word with such a huge, earth-shattering impact.  Dictionary.com defines joy as "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation; a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated; the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety; a state of happiness or felicity."  I disagree.  Joy is not always equated with happiness, delight, gaiety.  In fact, I'm not sure how to define true joy.  Life is hard, and often we have to choose joy.  I don't mean putting on a happy face during a time of struggle.  I mean a deep sense of joy rooted in our hearts because of the incredible gift of salvation.  Deep enough that no matter what our circumstance, nothing can move it.  It might be hard to see, hard to feel, hard to remember, but it's there.  There's a whole story in Scripture that speaks to where our joy comes from, why we can choose joy in every moment, and how we are to live out this indescribable joy.

First and foremost, we have joy because Jesus came.  God so loved His creation that he sent His perfect Son for our salvation.  His angels alerted us to the fact that His birth was a source of “great joy…for all the people” (Luke 2:10).  We sing about it every year: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”  This event alone is enough to bring deep joy. 

But we also know He suffered on our behalf…for joy… “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).  We are saved because of His suffering and death.  How can you not rejoice?

And that’s not even all.  Jesus is coming AGAIN!  I love this vision from Isaiah 52:8 –

“The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice;
    together they sing for joy;
for eye to eye they see
    the return of the Lord to Zion.”

The best part?  Eternal victory is His.  He reigns.  Forever!  Seriously, are there adequate words for this?  Check out the first few verses of Psalm 50.  I mean, just read it.  Meditate on it.  Wow. 

The Mighty One, God the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines forth.
Our God comes; he does not keep silence;
    before him is a devouring fire,
    around him a mighty tempest.

HE summons the earth.  HE shines forth.  HE comes.  HE is not silent. 

Now read these words from Isaiah 9:

“The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

That’s for us.  You and me.  I think “a land of deep darkness” is an apt description, right?  Light, peace, justice, righteousness.  Forevermore.  Certainly a cause for joy. 

So now what?  We clearly see why we can and should have joy.  But what does that mean for today, for right now?  The season of Advent is one of waiting, of preparing our hearts, of preparing the way for the Lord’s second coming.  And there is joy because He is with us, Emmanuel, even in the waiting.  He is God, He reigns even now.  We are His, and His love is steadfast.  And we should praise Him with joyful spirits!

Our soul waits for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
    because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you. (Psalm 33:20-22)

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.  (Psalm 100)

Then we are reminded in 1 Peter 1 of the “living hope…an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…ready to be revealed in the last time…Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”  Believe in Him.  Rejoice.  Wait expectantly, joyfully, for the outcome of your faith. 

And finally, a practical way to live out an expression of joy from the words of John 15 – “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love…that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”  Love one another.  This is the most complete expression of the joy we have been given.  Abide in His love and love one another.  Start with your families.  Watch the joy grown in your children, your loved ones, your neighbors.  Be wealthy in generosity because of the abundance of joy you have in our Savior (2 Corinthians 8).  Wait for Him with hope, with joy, with love, with peace in your hearts.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).