“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil. 4:4
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Eph. 5:8
“They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.” Psalm 34:5
Maybe it’s an old-fashioned word. Maybe it’s not used much nowadays. Maybe you’ve never heard the word. Or had any use for it anyway. But rest assured I’m all too familiar with the word. After all, I was called a “sourpuss” at times as a child. I was told not to be one. I was also told to smile. Countless times. By strangers to an exceeding degree. I was also told to wipe the smirk off my face. Needless to say, perhaps you get the picture. My countenance, a word I discovered in the Bible, or my demeanor, to use another relatively fancy word, for me anyway, was not altogether desirable. To say the least. I tended to look unhappy to the world around me. Given the fact I had my trials as we all do, and most importantly that I had no relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and had a spoiled, self-centered attitude much of the time, I wasn’t exactly predisposed to looking even in the least bit joyful. Glad. Merry. Happy. Content. Thankful. Positive. Etc.
Once upon a time, that girl turned into a woman. Then, by God’s grace alone, that young woman had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ and was born again and received the promise of everlasting life. Though not at first, as she should have done, she ultimately dove into the Word, became immersed in the Body of Christ, became totally sold out to the Lord Jesus Christ, and then lived happily ever after, right? Wrong!
I’m still prone to having facial expressions that are anything but joyful. A countenance that speaks all too well of a sourpuss. A heart way too filled with junk that doesn’t belong there. A demeanor both on my face and in my attitude that echoes all the way back to those childhood days when people told me to smile.
Is there a message in this? For me? For you? Absolutely! Life has its trials and tribulations, its hurdles, obstacles, and challenges, but Christ’s followers have every reason in the world NO MATTER WHAT to be filled with joy and gladness, merriment and contentment, and to reflect on our faces, in our hearts and attitudes, and in our very decisions and actions not what speaks of a sourpuss but what displays to the world REJOICING, CELEBRATING, THANKSGIVING, CONTENTMENT, and EXCITEMENT.
For we as His followers have the promise of an everlasting relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ instead of forever apart from God in torment in hell and the lake of fire. We don’t have to wait for heaven to look forward to intimacy with Christ who is forever Lord. Moment by moment, because of what He did in the cross for us, we have access to the very presence of God almighty through Christ.
Sometimes people who meet me tell me they see me glowing, or they see a light about me, or they notice my passion and joy for Jesus, and that’s exactly how it should be! For the Spirit of God LIVES inside His followers! And the countenance the world sees should be one that reflects the love and light and joy of Jesus the Christ!
I needed this reminder to watch my heart, my face, my words, my actions, my demeanor, my countenance. It’s time for the sourpuss to be gone for good. And should the sourpuss make unwanted, unexpected surprise appearances, I know what I need to do. Repent of what once was – and walk in the “newness of life” – the love and light and joy of Jesus.
Hope this makes you think of how you appear to the world around you, and, most importantly, how you to appear to God almighty.
Please don’t be a sourpuss. Exhibit the joy and love and light and mercy and kindness and gentleness and beauty of Jesus the Christ! For the glory of CHRIST – AMEN!