JOY UNSPEAKABLE

1Pet. 1:8 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,

If you really think about it, joy controls pretty most all of our actions. The quest starts the moment we are born, the babe searching for it’s mother’s milk, longing for the comfort and joy found in his mother’s arms. From there we move on in life, looking for joy playing with our friends, getting involved with athletics, academics, dance class or whatever. At the end of the day we are each searching for the same thing; joy. This joy becomes the fountain that all our actions spring from.

The alcoholic or the academic, the jock or the stoner, from the cheer leader to the librarian; it’s joy that everyone seeks. The only difference is where we are looking. Could it be that our search is actually spiritual and at the end of the day we are all searching for the same thing? Here are some classic words from Jonathan Edwards from his book Religious Affections.

“The Author of the human nature has not only given affections to men, but has made ’em very much the spring of men’s actions. As the affections do not only necessarily belong to the human nature, but are a very great part of it; so (inasmuch as by regeneration, persons are renewed in the whole man, and sanctified throughout) holy affections do not only necessarily belong to true religion, but are a very great part of that. And as true religion is of a practical nature, and God has so constituted the human nature, that the affections are very much the spring of men’s actions, this also shows, that true religion must consist very much in the affections. Such is man’s nature, that he is very inactive, any otherwise than he is influenced by some affection, either love or hatred, desire, hope, fear or some other. These affections we see to be the springs that set men a-going, in all the affairs of life, and engage them in all their pursuits: these are the things that put men forward, and carry ’em along, in all their worldly business; and especially are men excited and animated by these, in all affairs, wherein they are earnestly engaged, and which they pursue with vigor.”

It is actually the joy that is found in Christ that has not only the power to satisfy us, it also transforms us into different kinds of people. This is the power of salvation that changes the very nature of our being.