The Happy Life
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3
“How can I pray for you or your family or someone you know?” I asked a customer service rep at a company I had called. She was taken aback. It wasn’t my idea to ask her this. The Spirit of God had prompted me.
“Well, hmm. You can pray that I have a happy life on earth,” she said.
Wow. Hmm. “I’m sorry,” I replied. “I will pray for you, but I can’t pray that. God doesn’t promise us a happy life on earth,” I explained. “Jesus said we will have tribulations, but that He’s overcome the world. Through faith in Him, we can have an amazing relationship with God right on this earth and forever. I’ve had a lot of challenges in my life, but now I have an amazing relationship with God. And I found out He offers us indescribable spiritual blessings like love, peace, joy, hope, etc. I’m going to pray for you for an amazing relationship with God and for His spiritual blessings.”
Less than 24 hours before, I had heard a pastor preach that Jesus essentially wants for us to be happy on earth. My heart was so heavy because never in God’s Word have I seen the Lord promise us let alone want for us to live happily ever after on earth. Happiness on earth is temporary at best and contingent on our circumstances, and the world itself is only temporary. What God wants for us is that we would repent of our sins, place our trust in Christ, and enter into an indescribably beautiful, intimate, and personal relationship with Him here on earth as He prepares us by His Spirit through His Word for forever with Him in the everlasting Kingdom of heaven.
I have long since given up seeking happiness on earth. Not only do I know it is not promised to us on earth, but it doesn’t even come close to the joy, thrill, fulfillment, satisfaction, light, hope, peace, contentment, excitement, passion, intimacy, and unfathomable love offered us by being in fellowship with God through Christ on this earth as those who follow Christ can look forward to forever and ever with God in heaven rather than spending eternity in perpetual torment in hell. The woman asked me to pray God would give her the happy life on earth. How far short we fall in living in pursuit of the happy life on earth when instead we can experience through a life devoted to God His love and untold beauty now and forever.
Are you seeking temporary happiness or forever with God?