The gospel of Christ is a gospel of joy. Never forget that the gospel is “good [news] of great joy.” And do not forget the words that follow: “Which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:1010And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10)). This includes you. It is clear that there is a gospel of joy, and it is also clear that it is for you. Have you believed the glad tidings? Are you rejoicing in eternal life? If not, you do not understand salvation!
Now, do not make any mistake as to the gospel joy. Remember that the gospel does not make people happy in their sins. It makes them happy by delivering them from their sins. There must be freedom before there can be joy, and we know that there can be no freedom in slavery to sin. When the Saviour announced His mission, He said He came to “preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” His salvation is a mighty deliverance. It takes possession of the heart. It overcomes the world and makes its possessor the Lord’s free man.
The man who says he is saved and yet is not happy in the Lord has much to learn. God’s salvation makes people happy, notwithstanding all that the world says to the contrary. The world tells you that if you get converted to God you will cease to enjoy life. The truth of the matter is that it is only when you receive God’s salvation that you can begin to enjoy life.
The world cannot give a true statement on this subject, for it speaks of something it knows nothing about by actual experience. If a man has never been converted, how can he explain the results that follow conversion? If a man has not known the joy of redeeming love, how can he compare it with worldly pleasures?
You know if this deliverance is your experience. If, until now, you have missed salvation’s joy, you have missed the greatest and the only true and lasting joy to be found on earth. Scripture expressly says that “blessed [happy] is the people that know the joyful sound” (Psalm 89:1515Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. (Psalm 89:15)).
“Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drinK” (John 7:3737In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37)).
But I am a great sinner, you say.
“I will in no wise cast out,” Christ says.
I have served Satan all my days, you say.
“I will in no wise cast out,” Christ says.
But I have sinned against light, you say.
“I will in no wise cast out,” Christ says.
I have no good thing to bring, you say.
“I will in no wise cast out,” Christ says.