My only Hope

The Secrets of Real Joy Part VII:

MODELING JOY

It is a given that when things are sweet and rosy, there is joy. But what if God allows problems in our lives? How can we continue to be salt and light to the world around us? Paul gives some pointers:

1. Follow those who model PURE JOY. “Brethren, join in following my example, and

observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us (Philippians 3:17). A lot can be learned from Paul whose joy shone brightly even in his darkest hours. He may have been imprisoned many times, but he was free enough to be joyful always. Knowing Christ gave him all the reasons to rejoice. Job is another biblical icon in the area of pure joy untouched by people and circumstances. With everything practically wiped out in a single day (home, children, livestock and servants), he still had a right attitude toward God, with joy and faith still intact. We can follow in their footsteps as examples of joy-filled lives worth emulating.

2. Beware of those who model FALSE JOY. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things (Philippians 3:18-19). False teachers have no real joy because their gospel is counterfeit. Everything about them is false: false joy anchored on false hope. Thus, they can be spotted through the fruits they produce: false sense of happiness, false sense of security and false sense of righteousness. Therefore, we must:

· Be aware of their wrong theology. There are many deceitful doctrines that come in various forms: Health and wealth gospel; new age; mysticism; teachings regarding the Holy Spirit’s outpouring which paints a questionable image of God; salvation by good works; and salvation by some other mediator or through church membership. But genuine believers know that the true gospel is about salvation found in Jesus Christ alone through faith in Him. The resurrection of our Savior is the basis of our hope from which springs genuine joy.

· Beware of those within who model false thinking. Even in the Christian circle, there are some rotten eggs that may spoil the whole basket. They are those who set low standards of Christianity; those who cause others to stumble, and those who say “Do as I say, not as I do.” ‘As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:24).

3. Be models of REAL JOY. We, as Christ’s bride, can joyfully anticipate seeing and being with our Groom in our real home. Such is our joy when Jesus comes to gather His people. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21). As citizens of heaven, we should:

a) Model our citizenship by our CONDUCT:

• Live in unity (Philippians 2:1-2);
• Live in humility (Philippians 2:5);
• Live without grumbling (Philippians 2:14).

b) Model our citizenship by our ATTITUDE

• Do not be terrified by adversaries (Philippians 1:28);
• Do not be anxious (Philippians 4:6-7).

c) Model our citizenship by our PERSPECTIVE. Joy is the by-product of a Christ-centered mindset. By seeing circumstances from God’s perspective, it is possible to rejoice in the midst of trouble for we are assured of God’s abiding love: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5); God’s absolute sovereignty: “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28); God’s grand plan: “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus our Lord” (Philippians 1:6).

Since we are only transients on earth, we can endure pain and suffering knowing that they will enrich us spiritually and prepare us for our homecoming. All that we are and all that we have here are nothing compared to the incomparable riches that await us in heaven. As Joel Rosenberg wrote in his book, “Epicenter”, when others “look around and when they see believers in Jesus enjoying internal peace during a time of such violence and fear, they want Jesus too”.

“Charity begins at home,” so the saying goes. Modeling should, therefore, begin at home. Are we doing just that? Is our joy contagious to our family members that they see Christ’s countenance in our faces and feel His love through our caring acts? For us to be effective, we must follow those who model pure joy, beware of those who model false joy and be models of real joy.

THE SECRETS OF REAL JOY PART VI:
Running the Race to Christ-likeness

Living in complacency, living in the past, living without a purpose–that sounds like a joyless existence.  How can we put excitement into our lives and at the same time make it meaningful and significant?  Are we just going to watch the world go by on the sidelines, or are we going to be where the action is as active participants?

By virtue of our qualification as God’s people, we have entered into a race where participation is not an option but a mission.  How can we run with a winning attitude as we tackle the different hurdles and still fulfill what God has purposed for our lives?

The apostle Paul has this to impart: “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained” (Philippians 3:12-16). For practical application, these should help:

1. Don’t live in complacency–Get ready! Growth is essential in the Christian life.  If we think being saved is all there is to Christianity, we will never graduate to higher levels of faith and be what God wants us to become. Growth begins with the realization that we need to change. And when we start measuring our progress, our standard should be Christ. Comparing ourselves with our neighbor is not the yardstick that will tell us how far we need to go to be straightened out.

Our decision to grow in spiritual maturity gets us ready to start the race. Being a “lukewarm” Christian is a sign of complacency. A holy dissatisfaction over where we are now, as seen in the apostle Paul, is what we should all develop.  Are we progressing in the right direction?

2. Don’t live in the past–Get set! The past is one baggage we cannot lug along as we run the race. It robs us of both the present and the future. Forgetting what lies behind is what we need to do. Forgetting does not mean completely being rid of the memory. What it really means is to no longer be influenced or affected by the past. In other words, forgetting is to break the power of the past by living for the future.

For us to be conquerors of our past there are three things we need to master:

a) Recognize the past for what it is–past, over, ended, finished,  gone,  and done.

b) Recognize that it’s the devil’s strategy to discourage or defeat us and ultimately rob us of joy.

c) Recognize that although we cannot alter the past, we have the power to change the way we respond to it.

One thing that locks us to the past is unforgiveness.  Forgiving the hurts and offenses inflicted on us by people will set us free from the past. If Paul never forgave himself for his past as a persecutor of Christians, he probably wouldn’t have known what it’s like to have joy in the company of trials. His epistle in the Roman prison exhorting us to rejoice would not have been written.  And he would never have strained forward to become the missionary who sparked a spiritual revival in the early church. We can make the same choice Paul made. Our choice to forget the past and reach forward to know Christ more intimately and make Him known gets us set in the right direction.

3. Don’t live without purpose–Get going! Are we drifters with no goals, ambitions or dreams? “Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning; without meaning, life has no significance.  The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.”

Knowing our purpose motivates us. Purpose produces passion. ”We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). The signature of God in our lives is what makes us priceless and unique. Our commitment and dedication to fulfill our purpose to pursue Christ-likeness gets us going to achieve our goal and win the prize.  Our motivation is the upward call, which is to live in light of being called out of this world into the presence of God.
The ending of our life is more important than the beginning.  If we want to finish strong, we must play by the rules in order to finish the race and win the promised prize.