|
 A few years ago Canadian writer Mike Mason (author of The Mystery of Marriage, The Gospel According to Job, etc.) launched what he called "an experiment in joy": he made up his mind to be joyful in the Lord every day for ninety days. A moody person by nature, for him this was a radical experiment that changed his life. Throughout the ninety days he kept a journal, which eventually became a book on joy entitled Champagne for the Soul.
What follows is part of a series of ten excerpts from that book (now in a new edition by Regent College Publishing, available through Amazon.ca).
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy
went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matthew 13:44 What treasure so great that a man would give everything he has to obtain it? Jesus calls it the kingdom of heaven, and the key to it is the gospel.
What is the gospel?
I was once asked this question by a young man who had been a Christian for many years and had just completed a three-year course of study at one of the best evangelical seminaries in the world. At the time, the Lord did not give me an answer for him. What could I say to someone who was already stuffed with theology? Yet all his knowledge couldn't keep him from feeling wracked by guilt about all the unfortunate people in the world, about the feebleness of his love, about all his bad habits, and about many other things.
Of course, underneath all this guilt was anger. A more troubled, bitter fellow I've seldom met. At the same time, he struck me as somewhat typical of the North American Christian, only more honest than most in his perplexity. How many of us really know the gospel, or live as if we do?
In the parable of the treasure hidden in a field, Jesus' purpose was not to explain the gospel in theological terms but rather to emphasize its dramatic effect on the believer. In his joy, we read, the man in the story gave up everything he had in exchange for his new found treasure. He would never have done this for the sake of doubt or guilt, for these are poor motivators. Though a man may feel ever so justified for his doubts, and though he may feel ever so virtuous about the load of guilt he carries (doesn't this show how well he understands himself as a sinner?), such feelings can and will never motivate him to live as God wants him to.
To follow and obey God, he needs joy. He needs to catch a glimpse of the greatest treasure of all, the inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8) of believing in Christ.
It may seem a tall order to live every day in joy. Yet think of the prize to be won... a world washed new, a heart clean and pure, a spring in the step, boundless hope, an irresistible impulse to laugh and sing. What would you give to attain such treasures? More to the point: What wouldn't you give?
Continue article >>
|
How do I know that I know the gospel? I know it by the joy The man in the parable gave up everything for joy. He gave all to gain all. What keeps us from doing the same? No doubt we can think of many hindrances, but really there's only one lack of faith in the gospel's joy. We listen to our heart, we sense the stirrings of the Holy Spirit, and we begin to sense a joy so delicious and otherworldly that immediately we presume there must be some catch. We think joy is like sugar or chocolate and we're only allowed so much. Surely such a wonderful feeling isn't meant to be ours? Surely we aren't permitted to live this way? And so, unlike the man in Jesus' parable, we stop short of going for the gold. it gives me. By contrast, I know I've lost sight of the gospel when I find myself restless, unhappy, fearful, plagued by subtle guilt. Unhappiness keeps me stuck. Only joy moves me over the line into the kingdom of heaven.
Now answer for yourself: What is the gospel? Keep asking until the answer that comes provokes an eruption of joy.
In the parable of the treasure hidden in a field, Jesus' purpose was not to explain the gospel in theological terms but rather to emphasize its dramatic effect on the believer. In his joy, we read, the man in the story gave up everything he had in exchange for his new found treasure. He would never have done this for the sake of doubt or guilt, for these are poor motivators. Though a man may feel ever so justified for his doubts, and though he may feel ever so virtuous about the load of guilt he carries (doesn't this show how well he understands himself as a sinner?), such feelings can and will never motivate him to live as God wants him to.
To follow and obey God, he needs joy. He needs to catch a glimpse of the greatest treasure of all, the inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8) of believing in Christ.
It may seem a tall order to live every day in joy. Yet think of the prize to be won... a world washed new, a heart clean and pure, a spring in the step, boundless hope, an irresistible impulse to laugh and sing. What would you give to attain such treasures? More to the point: What wouldn't you give?
The man in the parable gave up everything for joy. He gave all to gain all. What keeps us from doing the same? No doubt we can think of many hindrances, but really there's only one lack of faith in the gospel's joy. We listen to our heart, we sense the stirrings of the Holy Spirit, and we begin to sense a joy so delicious and otherworldly that immediately we presume there must be some catch. We think joy is like sugar or chocolate and we're only allowed so much. Surely such a wonderful feeling isn't meant to be ours? Surely we aren't permitted to live this way? And so, unlike the man in Jesus' parable, we stop short of going for the gold.
How do I know that I know the gospel? I know it by the joy it gives me. By contrast, I know I've lost sight of the gospel when I find myself restless, unhappy, fearful, plagued by subtle guilt. Unhappiness keeps me stuck. Only joy moves me over the line into the kingdom of heaven.
Now answer for yourself: What is the gospel? Keep asking until the answer that comes provokes an eruption of joy.
September 27/2007
|
