JOY AHEAD

This may sound like something you get in a fortune cookie, but there is joy ahead for you. Do you really believe that? It's so easy for us to look at the world, look at our schedule, look at our circumstances, and forget that there is joy ahead. It says in:

1 Peter 1:6-7 “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine..."

The most famous of all the old hymns, Amazing Grace, has the verse that starts, “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come.” Some of our problems are from the enemy, some are just how life goes this side of heaven, and some are there just to test our faith. It isn't really faith unless it's put to the test. 

There is joy ahead, even when this life isn't easy. We get into trouble when we think that being a Christian means that nothing bad will ever happen to us. That’s not true. We know it’s not true. And, we’re being dishonest when we tell people they should be a Christian so that they won’t have any problems anymore. Jesus never said anything like that. He told us there would be problems, but that we were to be happy.

Matthew 5:11-12 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad!"

Why are we happy? Because we have hope of heaven. I love my acronyms, and I found one a few years ago for hope. HOPE stands for Hold On, Pain Ends. In these Roaring 20's we have already had all kinds of trials, but then again, life has all kinds of trials. I am glad, even when there are trials because there is wonderful joy ahead.