Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

HAPPINESS IS IN THE LORD

Happiness has been variously defined as a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

Happiness occurs on many levels of the human psyche. Moreover,

its tenants vary both in content and in age. Simple things may bring temporary happiness to a child while more complex things produce the same for an adult. Additionally, some states of happiness are extremely temporal and fleeting while others remain, but it is the state of happiness that claims our attention. Think about it.

Unfortunately, the term “Happiness” does not occur in the KJV of the Bible, but there are several synonyms which do. Words such as “cheer, joy, rejoice, good cheer, contentment,” etc. are found often in Holy Writ.

This state of being is universally sought by men. Even the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America states the “Pursuit of Happiness” as a God-given right of men. Unfortunately, sin in men causes them to look to the material world in the belief that the blessed state lies in education, acquisition of wealth, power, fame, and most anything else that glitters. Usually their awakening of such grave error, if it comes at all in this life, arrives when life is done and their pursuits of life lie empty before them.

But this is not so for true Christians, and this addresses that which makes true and lasting happiness. They hear Jesus repeatedly telling the disciples to be of good cheer. They relive the apostle Paul admonishing the sailors on a doomed ship to be of good cheer. They experience the sweetness of the rejoicing themed in Philippians. And what causes it? It is complete and unreserved acceptance and dependence upon the marvelous promises of God’s Holy Word: the Word that tells them of their original sinful state; of the way of salvation; its experience; of wisdom and knowledge about the world in which they live, and how to deal with issues of life; of hope, sweet hope, unwavering hope in the sureness of the future. It is the certain confidence of the promise that brings the blessed state. But unlike the promises of the world, the promises of God are sure and steadfast, and never, no, not a single time are they a disappointment that would dash the state of Christian joy!

The psalmist underscored this subject in Psalm 16:11. “Thou wilt

88