A New Year Message - - -The Joy of Faith

“The Joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

Entering this, another year of pilgrimage, no child of faith need be reminded of our Master’s predictive words: “...upon the earth dis-tress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and foreboding on what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Lk. 21:25, 26).

Ours is a day of world confusion which might well lead to the “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,” forecast by the prophet Daniel (12:1). It is truly a day of upheaval in every sphere of life, be it moral, social, political, financial, economic, or religious. Events everywhere increasingly evidence the proximity of God’s wonderful worldwide kingdom, long promised and awaited and prayed for - “the desire of all nations” (Haggai 2:7). “It is near, even at the doors (Matthew 24:33). “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

These evidences, that the culmination of Christian hope is close at hand, are recognized only by faith. But for those who -- “See the marriage splendor within the open door;” and know “that those who enter are blest forevermore” -- there abides that inner exaltation of spirit - that joy of our heading text. This is a joy regardless of our present circumstances, whether they are physical infirmity, loneliness, lack of fellowship, cares of life, financial needs or increasing age. Shall anxieties concerning these mar faith in our Father’s provision? No! Rather, let us emulate the faith of one of old (Habakkuk. 3:17, 18) who, bereft of all physical necessities, did yet rejoice in the God of his salvation. It is this note of strengthening joy that we would urge upon ourselves and all our readers as we enter the coming year.

Our Master was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. Yet with a delight in doing His Father’s will, and for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, despised the shame, and left to us as a present heritage His joy that ours might be full (John 15:11). “Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8).

It is remarkable that St. Paul, in listing nine elements that comprise spiritual fruitage (Galatians 5:22, 23), includes joy. The other eight require the disciplines of time, but joy was an immediate reaction of mind from our first apprehension of divine benevolence. God gave to us “the oil of joy for mourning.” Our “joy in the Lord” increasingly glorifies our Father as in patient obedience we undergo the trying experiences intended to bring us to spiritual maturity, enabling us to heartily comply with the Apostle Paul’s exhortation - “Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Let us take inventory of some sources of joy, which are ours, which provide the strength to persevere in our evil day. We list seven, each being Scripturally amplified.

God - Foremost, is our Heavenly Father Himself. To direct our thoughts to Him is to become filled with joy! “I am so glad that My Father loves me!” “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). “...let all those that put their trust in you rejoice; let them ever shout for joy because you defend them; let them also that love your name be joyful in you” (Psa. 5:11). So close to His heart does Jehovah gather His loyal and faithful children that they feel the warmth of His love and the responsive language of their hearts is “I will abide in Your tabernacle under Your protection forever.”

Jesus -- Does not contemplation of our Master bring instant joy to our hearts? Does a bride rejoice in her bridegroom? “My beloved is mine, and I am his...(he is) the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys...the chiefest among ten thousand...yea, he is altogether lovely” (Song of Sol. 2:16, 1; 5:10, 16). “Whom not having seen, you love...and rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). In addition, what of the prospect of seeing Him as He is - “Face to face, in all His glory?” - A prospect exceeding imagination! Even now, may our joy abound in the realization of His presence in our daily lives - “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

Divine Truth - Does not the knowledge of the Divine message of truth bring joy to our hearts? “Your words were found and I did eat them; and your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart...” (Jeremiah 15:16). “Light is sown for the righteous, and (the resulting) gladness for the upright in heart” (Psalm 97:11). “Your statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage” (Psalm 119:54). May our joy in God’s Word be a constant source of inner strength.

Brethren - What of our brethren in the Lord, who will be part of our eternal family in heaven? From a Christian writer: “...They love each other from the new standpoint of intention, will, harmony with God, and their friendship for one another grows increasingly as they perceive each other’s energy in fighting the good fight of faith against the evil influences of the world, flesh, and Adversary. Nor tongue, nor pen can properly express the love, the friendship, which subsists between these New Creatures in Christ Jesus, to whom old things have passed away, and all things have become new.”

Angels - What shall we say as regards the heavenly host, the innumerable company of angels (Hebrews 12:22), the “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11)? They shouted for joy when the Lord laid earth’s foundations (Job 38:7), and praised God at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:13). They are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14), whose “angels do always behold the face of my Father” (Matthew 18:10). “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10). Great will be their paean at the marriage of the Lamb! Let this fruit of joy abound and strengthen “the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Hebrews 12:12).

Tribulations - Can we find present joy in that which will strengthen us to endure unto final victory? Consider these scriptures: “Blessed are you when men shall hate you...separate you from their company...reproach you...cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold your reward is great in heaven (Luke 6:22). And James writes (1:2): “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Paul, who rejoiced in his own sufferings (Colossians 1:24), gives us these precious words of encouragement in Romans 5:3-5: “...we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation works patience; patience, experience; experience, hope; and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.” And 2 Corinthians 4:17 states “...for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things seen, but at the things unseen...” Such counsel is truly cause for joy to every Christian. We seal it with Paul’s words: “...we know that God works all things together for the good of them that love God, to those called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). This is the joyful confidence of faith!

Humankind - We consider poor humanity - not their present woeful lot but their coming future, when joy unending (Isaiah 35:10) will be their blessed portion. Then will we share with our beloved Master in the joyful Millennial work of lavishing blessing all around as our Heavenly Father has before determined. Yes, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed” (Romans 8:19)! In this kingdom, prepared from the foundation of the world, the glorious portion available for every human being as an eternal gift of God through Christ, when contrasted with their present misery, does even now fill our hearts with overflowing joy and bring tears of gladness to our eyes. Alleluia and Alleluia! Aside from these seven joys...there are the joys beyond the Millennium! There remains the future joys awaiting the Church after the work of earthly restitution is completed - the ages to come to which St. Paul refers in Ephesians 2:7. Here, the veil to our understanding has not yet been drawn back, and imagination is too feeble to penetrate the glorious future. There is a dim perception in God’s Word, but it remains true that “...now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known” (1 Cor. 13:12). There yet remain blessings untold, for it is written “...how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you” (Psa. 31:9). “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house; and You shall make them drink of the river of thy pleasures” (Psalm 36:8).

“A little while, with patience, Lord, I fain would ask, ‘How long?’

For how can I with such a hope of glory and of home,

With such a joy awaiting me, not wish the hour were come?

How can I keep the longing back, and how suppress the groan?”

Yet peace my heart, and hush, my tongue! Be calm my troubled breast!

Each passing hour prepares thee more for everlasting rest.

Thou knowest well, the time thy God appoints for thee is best,

The morning star already shines; the glow is in the east.

Then Oh, Lord Jesus, quickly show, Thy glory and Thy light,

And take God’s longing children home and end, earth’s weary night.

Let us fearlessly await our consummation...We shall behold His face in righteousness; we shall be satisfied when we awake in His likeness (Psalm 17:15). In these days of our earthly pilgrimage which remain, and in which our cup of joy runs over, may each heart sing with praise to our Heavenly Father and our blessed Lord Jesus, heeding, under every stress, Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always: Again I say, Rejoice!”

W. J. Siekman -- (1986)