Who Wants The Fullness Of Joy?
To believe in God you must also believe in another realm or dimension. The unseen; yet just as real as the chair you sit on. In both cases, faith is required. It is very easy to have faith in the chair you are about to sit in because you can see it and judge whether it is sturdy enough to withstand your weight. After years of exercising faith in that chair you no longer think about it but just sit on it knowing it will hold you up. The same should be true with God. The challenge is, we cannot see God. in order to know if He is real, and if iHe is able if He is willing. We can only approach God through faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Faith is believing in what you cannot see but know exists.
After Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to many people and they were astonished. When they reported what they saw to the apostle Thomas he said he would not believe until he saw and touched Jesus’ wounds. Jesus granted him that request and appeared again when Thomas was present. When Jesus encouraged Thomas to put his hand in the wounds Thomas proclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus acknowledged it was because Thomas saw and touched Jesus he believed. Jesus then went on to pronounce a special blessing to the world when He said “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believe” (Jn. 20:29b)
All believers at one time or another acknowledge the existence of God. It may have started with faith as small as a mustard seed. God will water that “seed faith” and cause it to grow bigger and stronger. God tells us in His Word, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17). The more time we spend reading God’s Word the stronger our faith becomes. He will speak to us through His Word and reveal Himself to us in His Word. In His Word, He tells us, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6).
One of the greatest rewards we can have is to be in the presence of God. The Bible tells us “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is the fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Ps. 16:11) What more could we ask for than to have the fullness of joy and experience pleasures forevermore? The way to be in the presence of the Lord is to praise Him. Psalm 22:3 tells us “Yet Thou art holy, O Thou Who art enthroned upon the praises of Israel (His people).” We can experience the presence of the Lord when we actively praise and worship Him. Satan, who was the worship leader in heaven before he was cast out, knows this and actively tries to prevent and discourage us from praising the Lord. I will not be a doubting Thomas. I will declare; in the midst of trials, tribulation, discouragement and fear; I will praise the Lord. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Ps.150:6)
Comments