As human beings we value independence. We enjoy the ability to choose our spouse, job, house, car, and clothes. As a nation we celebrate Independence Day. We like the freedom to do things that bring us happiness and fulfillment. We're proud of our self-reliance!
Yet, in reality are we completely independent beings? Are we liberated and freed from needing God? In reality, man will never be self-sufficient apart from God. We are born stamped with "His image" (Genesis 1:27). We live in His creation and survive by the air, water, and food He supplies "for in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). When we die our souls "will return to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Think about it! Since we depend on God from the cradle to the grave, can any person be genuinely happy in life without God?
Living Apart From God?
Atheists will affirm, "Yes!" and preach man doesn't need a "fairy-tale god" to be happy. However, there have always been disastrous consequences for living without God. When men and women decide to reject God and instead serve self, it sooner or later ends in unhappiness and tragedy. When "the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart", God sent the worldwide flood and punished sinful men (Genesis 6:5-6). When the Canaanite people served the pagan gods of Baal and Molech, their hearts and minds grew dark and evil. They caused "their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech" (Jeremiah 32:35). While we shudder to think of parents burning living babies, our more enlightened society dismembers living babies in the womb! The prophet Jeremiah rightly concluded, "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (10:23).
The Gentile world's freedom from God led to a downward spiral into wicked and sinful living. The apostle Paul said, "although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God...but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools...Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:21-25). Ultimately, man will serve one of two masters - God or self. Today, our foolish attempts to find happiness without God has reaped the human casualties of ruined lives, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction and shattered families. Where's the happiness in this insanity?
Yes, some people may wear "masks" of happiness, but inside they feel alone and empty. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, summarized our quandary when he said "You were made by God and for God and until you understand that, life will never make sense" and "Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope." While I do not endorse everything Warren may teach, he is precisely right about our need to know and to serve our Creator. Enjoying our purpose in life is found in a faithful relationship with God.
Finding Our Way Back To God
Friends, there has to be a better way to find authentic happiness and purpose in life! Our heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ into our broken world to save us from sin, death, Hell - and our own self-destructive choices. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). The New Living Translation reads, "My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." Wholesome words like "abundantly" and "satisfying" describe our spiritual blessings in Christ. These spiritual blessings overflow into physical blessings in our life and joyfulness! The benefits of serving God and growing as Christians will always include the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Living life with God will bring good things like love, joy, peace, etc. into our lives and families! To most people the "fruit of the Spirit" is more attractive than the destructive "works of the flesh" of "hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions...envy...drunkenness" (5:20-21).
The "abundantly" and "satisfying" life promised by Jesus will cost us something to find true happiness. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:24-25). Notice the words "save his life will lose it" and "loses his life for My sake will find it". We must decide to serve "self" or "deny self" in order to serve God. We must choose between being "slaves of sin" or "slaves of righteousness" if we really want to obey God (Romans 6:16). Being "slaves of sin" and handcuffed to our own sinful choices will always rob us of true happiness!
Getting To Know God Through His Word, The Bible
A happy and blessed life begins with digging into God's word - the Bible. We grow closer to God as we read and grow in the knowledge of our Creator. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Although David made mistakes, he had the good reputation of being a "man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). David's happiness in God was maintained by knowing God through the Scriptures. "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day...I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:97-104). In our private reading of God's word, Bible classes, and worship services we draw closer to God and the abundant life! We will come to want and desire to "lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).
Sometimes life can feel unhappy and unfair! You may feel like nothing good is working in your favor. You may face problems with jobs, school, family, friends - and even within yourself. Yes, even faithful Christians will face times of depression, worry, and loneliness. We can find real happiness, hope, and strength by trusting and obeying God! "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)
- Focusing On Truth, April 2016