Joy

As a society, collectively, we have a lot to be thankful for. We have conveniences now that those back in Biblical times could not even dream of. Instead of having to go out and gather food each day we can store leftovers in refrigeration units for sometimes a week or more.

Instead of having to go to a Well and draw out jugs of water, we can get it directly from faucets without even leaving our homes, or have it delivered to our doorstep.

We have handheld devices now with more raw computing power than the supercomputers of only twenty years ago. And wireless high-speed internet… from a Jet? If we were to mention that to someone even as recent as the early 90’s they would laugh in our face.

Yes we have a lot to rejoice over in this age. Yet I have recently been pondering the following scripture verses… Luke 10:17-20:

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” 

The seventy disciples couldn’t help but be excited by the power that they had, they saw the coolest thing way beyond what they expected because the previous 9 were not able to cast out a demon from a boy, yet these were able to do so freely and apparently rather easily.

And while there is nothing wrong with being joyful about such awesomeness, Jesus was quick to redirect their thinking and focus them again on the thing that is really important… their eternal salvation.

This has made me think of recent times, living in a place that has relatively frequent power outages, the conveniences and luxuries of modern life are occasionally removed as a not-so-subtle reminder that our source of joy should not come from the things of daily living, but from the ultimate reward given by the sacrifice of Jesus so many years ago.

So my personal lesson this week is to remind myself that
while there are many great and wonderful things to enjoy and be thankful for… none of it should be my source of ultimate joy, but I should rejoice in the Lord and His great gift of eternity in Heaven.