Sarah has been doing an awesome job blogging. Tbough I am the co-owner of this blog, I have not posted until now! I think you will enjoy my more concise sentence structure as evidenced thus far. =)
Sarah and I have been watching the "Anne of Green Gables" series on DVD during the last few days. I have been swept into the story line at times, and my masculinity has endured nicely. I love the beautiful shots of Prince Edward Island--amazing! And I also enjoy the heartwarming interaction between Merilla (I think that's how you spell it) and Anne.
This series has made me think a lot about where we find joy. Joy is something that everyone searches for and no one currently has enough of. I mean, most of the time we all would admit that we would love to have even just a thimble full more of joy.
In the "Anne of Green Gables" series, Anne expresses joy about so many things. When the audience first meets Anne, she is often finding joy in day dreams about what her life might be like if it weren't the same. She finds joy in nature on the carriage ride home with Matthew to Green Gables. She finds joy in attending the ball with what's her name...the girl friend of hers...brown hair...yea. In the sequel movie she finds joy in getting her writing published, in putting on an awesome school play, in returning home to the Green Gables, and especially in her and Gil's romance at the end.
We can all identify with these sources of joy, and they are all valid and important and good things to be joyful about. God has given us beautiful scenery, close personal relationships, parties, and romance to enjoy.
The overall portrayal of Anne in the movies raises a question for me...is Anne's joy lasting? Does it even last for hours, or days, or months, or years...let alone millenia or eternity? Also, are her sources of joy the ultimate source of joy or just vessels to point her to the ultimate source?
In relationship with God-the only true God revealed in Jesus Christ-is the only place that we will ever find lasting joy. We have all experienced getting that next thing that we want, finding joy for a brief period that then fades. For me, it's happened with my new job. Before I got a job, a part of me thought that getting one would bring me incredible joy. It did, in fact, but that joy has faded. My soul is again restless. It's no longer good enough that I have a job, I need a great commute, and so on, and so forth. God's unchanging nature and unbreakable promises allow those who trust in Him to have joy that lasts, no matter how high or how low life's circumstances take us.
In the person of God is where we find the ultimate source of joy...we were created with this in mind. Think about it...if the gifts (like the ones listed above) are so amazing, how much more amazing is the person who designed and crafted and gave us all the gifts? How much more able to give and sustain joy is that person? Infinitely more, and in fact, God's gifts are given to point us to himself, the magnificent and loving God that He is.
Perhaps the greatest gift God has given us is himself. God the Son (Jesus Christ) came to earth, leaving perfect and complete joy with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit while we, who had been created to love Him, were still turning against Him. He lived the life we should have lived, one that was perfectly obedient to God, and then died the death that we should have died for our rebellion. He defeated death (the penalty of our misdeeds) rising from the grave, making a way from us to God. This gift is given to us to make us see God as great. And, for those who receive this gift by believing that Jesus has done this incredible thing for them, this gift gives way to the highest joy we will ever know, knowing God forever.
The bible in 1 Peter 3:18 says: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,that he might bring us to God." Psalm 16:11 says, "In your presence [God's presence] there is fullness of joy."
What about when Anne and Gilbert fight and they can't stand the thought of each other for several hours? Will she have joy during that time? What about when she can't imagine herself out of an illness that she has, or a tough financial situation? When Merilla dies?
I would die for the truth that she will only find full joy throughout all circumstances in God himself.
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