Christian joy is primarily in waiting for the object of that joy to be revealed.

What I mean is this: Have you ever been happy just thinking about a certain joyous future event? Like your wedding day, for example. Leading up to our wedding day on April 2nd, 2005 and the subsequent honeymoon to Maui, I was so overjoyed and happy that nothing short of that day being cancelled could thwart it.

In other words, I was happy thinking about that happy day. And that happiness in waiting for that happy day was almost equal in intensity and ebullience.

That’s the Christian joy. Our joy comes in waiting for that final day when Joy Himself will be revealed to us as He is. And the more we think about that day, the more we are filled with the anticipation and the eagerness of that day.

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” 1 Cor. 15:19

But what about the accusation, “They are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good!” That certainly fits the description of some Christians. In history, some Christians have quit living and working just so that they can fully wait for the return of Christ. But that’s immaturity. Our waiting is to be an ACTIVE waiting and not a passive one. If we are truly joyful of the future reward and marriage with Christ, then it will motivate us to work all the harder, love others more passionately, spread the gospel more determinedly, and live more joyfully.

How happy were you leading up to your dream vacation?
How happy were you waiting for your child to be born?
How happy were you before your wedding day?
How happy were you thinking about your retirement?

Those are only glimpses of THE Day to come when we will be resurrected and finally inherit all that is Christ’s. It is in that hope we find our joy. It is more than that actually, but it is not less than that.

Be so heavenly minded that you will be earthly good.

PH