Gladness a Lesson to Be Learned

Far more than we suppose, is gladness a lesson to be learned. It does not come naturally to many of us at least, although there is a great difference in temperament, and some learn the lesson much more easily than others do. To none is it natural to rejoice in sorrow — this is something all of us must learn . Nor can we, merely by resolving to be glad, go through all the days thereafter with a song in our heart and sunshine in our face. The lesson can be mastered only through years of patient self-discipline , just as all life's lessons must be mastered.

It will help us in this experience, if we keep the ideal ever before us — that we are always to be glad, that failure here is sin, and grieves God. It will help us, also, if we will keep our heart full of the holy thoughts and words of God which are meant to inspire gladness . Longfellow gave a young friend this advice: "See some good picture — in nature, if possible, or on canvas — hear a song of the best music, or read a great poem, every day.

You will always find a free half-hour for one or the other, and at the end of the year your mind will shine with such an accumulation of jewels as will astonish even yourself." This is good counsel for any Christian who would learn the lesson of gladness. To this may be added: Take into your heart every day, some cheering word of God. Listen to some heavenly song of hope and joy. Let your eye dwell on some beautiful vision of divine love. Thus your very soul will become a fountain of light and joy, and gladness will become more and more the dominant mood of your life.

It will help us also to let Christ be our teacher, as we learn this great lesson. "Learn of me," is his invitation. His life is our lesson written out for us — and his Spirit is our teacher . The lesson is not impossible for any Christian — the saddest of us can learn to rejoice always.

We allow ourselves to be too easily convinced that it is impossible in this world to do more than dream of the heavenly life, that we cannot enter into any great measure of its blessedness, joy, and beauty until we pass from earth. In truth, however, Heaven is not far away. It begins in us the moment we are born again. The everlasting life is not something we shall enter when we die: "He who believes has everlasting life." The fruits of the Spirit which come into our life here, are the beginnings of Heaven. The privileges of communion and fellowship with God, are earthly privileges.

The life to which we are called as believers, is the Heavenly life. We are taught to pray that God's will may be done on earth, as it is in Heaven; that is, that Heavenly graces may come down now into our heart. No doubt Heaven's life in its fullness of joy, must remain still and ever unreached on earth, even after all of earth's strivings. Heaven will still be far sweeter, holier, richer, diviner, than the saintliest life of this world. Yet Heaven is not far from true Christian faith; we are in its borders , at least, in all holy living. We may attain a large measure of its blessedness, even here on earth.

We know that gladness is God's will for His people — not an occasional rapture of delight, not gladness on fair days and in happy conditions, then dropping again into sadness and tears on dreary days — but gladness unbroken, perennial, filling all the life. Should we not try to learn the lesson while we are here on earth? We have the same God now, that we shall have then — loving us, too, as he will then. We are God's children as truly now, as we shall be then.

All things are ours, even in this land of changes. Why can we not learn to sing Heaven's songs in this world? The secret lies in simple, childlike faith. If our mind is stayed upon God — he will keep us in perfect peace. If our will is lost in our Father's — we shall have no crosses. A cross is composed of two pieces of wood. The shorter piece represents your will — and the longer piece represents God's will. Lay the two pieces side by side — and there is no cross; but lay the shorter piece across the longer one — and you have a cross.

Just so, whenever our will falls across God's will — there is a cross in our life. We make a cross for ourselves . . . every time we do not accept Christ's way, every time we murmur at anything He sends, every time we will not do what He commands.

But when we quietly accept what He gives, when we yield in sweet acquiescence to His will, though it shatters our fairest hopes, when we let our will lie alongside His — there are no crosses in our life, and we have found the peace of Christ.

If Christ lives in us, and if we abide in Christ — the gladness of our heart shall be a song unbroken by any sorrow of earth.

The ministry of gladness is one of incalculable power . We cannot make the world better or happier, by going about in it with sad face and heavy heart and desponding speech. If our religion is not able to make us rejoicing Christians, victorious over all pain, loss, and sorrow — it will not impress the men and women around us who are bowing under their burdens, and longing for help. But if Christ is to us a Friend and Helper who can enable us to overcome , not only every spiritual enemy, but also every sorrow, loss, and trial — and to sing in the darkest midnight — then the weary and heavy laden ones of earth who see our life will be eager to find the secret of our gladness.

We can serve the world in no other way so well, as by being glad Christians. Then light will shine from us wherever we go, and we will be true revealers of God. Then men will want our Savior for theirs, a Savior who can turn their grief to gladness, who can make them victorious over life's sorrows.

Yet, after all, our dream of perfect gladness will never be fully realized in this world. There will always be something lacking. At best, earth's best is still incomplete. We may learn to sing our songs of triumph in the thickest of life's struggles, in the deepest of sorrow's midnights, and to be inspirers of others through our victorious gladness; yet ever on before us will move the vision of perfect joy, leading us and cheering us forward by its sweet hope, yet still unreached, still calling us to something better. It will not be until we close our eyes in death — that we shall attain the fullness of joy in Heavenly glory!

"In Your presence is fullness of joy ; at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore!" Psalm 16:11

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