The Bible On Trial

One of my co-workers at the hardware store has an answer for the common question, "How are you doing today?" His answer, "Living the Dream!" My own answer for this question is, "Not too bad for someone of my age and temperament, and today it's not the age!" Both answers extend a certain joy for life that is reflected in the smiles of the customers to who they are given. As my mom used to say, "No one likes a sour puss!"

It is my observation that those without a love for life reflect the situation that is in their minds (hearts) more than in their physical situation. Chronic pain is bad enough, but a chronic lack of joy is even worse.

To become truly joyful can only be achieved by knowing the truth. We can be happy by believeing in things that seem to make us happy, but may or may not be true. Yet happiness and joy are NOT the same. God has not called us to simply be happy, but to be joyful. Joy relects an inner peace brought about by certainty that we KNOW God, and God Knows us. This is the joy of which Jesus spoke in John 17:13; "But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves." This joy comes from knowing God through the words that Jesus brought to us from heaven. 

"Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You;  for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me." John 17:7-8.