23. THE CHRISTIAN'S JOY
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The Scriptures as frequently and as urgently call on the righteous to rejoice, as they call on the wicked to weep and mourn. "Let all who put their trust in You, rejoice." "Let Mount Zion rejoice, let Judah be glad." "Let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before God; yes, let them exceedingly rejoice." "Rejoice evermore." These are mere samples of what may be found in both the Old and the New Testaments.
Nor is the joy of the righteous vain and empty. He has good cause for the very highest exultations in which he ever indulges. Jehovah himself is a never-failing fountain of gladness to the humble. The Psalmist calls God his "exceeding joy." The darkest gulf into which the human mind ever looks, is the gulf of atheism. A world without a sun would be dismal, but a world without a God would be horrible. No wonder that the pious so exult in the Divine existence, and in all the Divine perfections. "Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns!" is a song sung wherever holy beings are found.
The salvation of God is a matter of perpetual gladness to the saints in heaven and on earth. The plan, the Author, the cost, the nature, and the end of redemption—fill the soul with pious wonder, and with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
In like manner the godly have joy in every good thing, in all the common bounties of Providence. They know that everything is sent in love. They even rejoice in tribulation. The martyrs have exultingly washed their hands in the flames which consumed them, and sung the praises of Immanuel until their voices sunk in death.
It does not diminish, but rather increases, and gives permanency to this joy—that it is made sober by trembling, that is, by a holy caution, a beneficial fear. "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall," is a wholesome caution, and makes no godly man despondent. Godly fear is closely allied to pious joy. It was when the prophet had such a glorious vision of God that he trembled, and his lips quivered, and rottenness entered into his bones, and he trembled in himself, that he exultingly exclaimed: "Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation" (Hab. 3:17-18). So we see how by fear joy works, and by fear is made perfect. For the saints serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling (Ps. 2:11).
The Christian has great joy when the kingdom of Heaven is first set up in his own heart. No day is more memorable than the day of one's espousal to Christ. How could it be otherwise? The poor soul, long oppressed by the Devil, having all its noble faculties loaded with the chains of ignorance, guilt, depravity, and misery, and made to serve base lusts—is at that time delivered from its cruel taskmasters, and experiences the glorious liberty of the sons of God. "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."
Oftentimes in its pilgrimage the soul is allowed to have glorious views of the mystery of God and of Christ. If not taken to the Mount of Transfiguration, it at least ascends the mount of ordinances, and there it is satisfied, as with marrow and fatness. Then it is made like the chariots of Amminadab. It holds sweet fellowship with Heaven. Its fellowship is truly with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
At the close of his great work on the glory of Christ, John Owen has a chapter on the way and means of the recovery of spiritual decays, and of obtaining fresh springs of grace. He says: "There are two things which those who, after a long profession of the Gospel, are entering into the confines of eternity, do long for and desire. The one is, that all their breaches may be repaired, their decays recovered, their backslidings healed. The other is, that they may have fresh springs of spiritual life, and vigorous actings of all Divine graces, in spiritual mindedness, holiness, and fruitfulness unto the praise of God, the honor of the Gospel, and the increase of their own peace and joy. These things they value more than all the world, and all that is in it." To such in a very pleasing degree God grants their desire. He has said that He would. Hear Him: "I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you" (Isa. 46:4). Again He says: "Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green" (Ps. 92:14). Because God is faithful, He gives increase of peace and joy to His aged servants. I have met many such in my lifetime.
I have met some such the last year. They tell me that they are just waiting, that they have no tormenting fears, that the joy of the Lord is their strength, and that their hearts are where their treasure is—even in heaven. Blessed are such. Their joys bear them quite above their trials and their sorrows.
A young orchard full of blooms is a goodly sight. But a matured orchard in autumn, laden with the richest fruit, is still more charming. The last is the reality; the first was but the promise. The end of sowing is reaping. The end of a life of piety is comfort and joy in the Holy Spirit. He who says there is no solid nor abounding joy to the Christian, is a stranger to vital godliness. The joy of the Lord is his strength.
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