What really makes us happy, what really matters?
In Romans 8 it's refreshingly clear...to have the Spirit of Christ living in us, to be loved by God.
But do we believe this? Or have we not taken the time to examine what the death and resurrection of Christ has done for us? Romans 8 dives in and asks some hard questions.
Check this passage out: Romans 8:35-37
"Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”n]">[n]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."
Is this true? Are we able to feel loved when we loose our job? When we feel destitute (though most of us are far from destitute when compared to our brothers and sisters living across the world).
If someone has Christ, but lacks even food...is suffering, is hurting, but has the Spirit of Christ, then they have the love & glory of God in them and that is enough.
We (I), American Christians, have put so many requirements on happiness and meaning. We have said Christ alone, but practiced Christ plus....house, money, marriage, kids, success, health, respect of men, entertainment, leisure, excess, pleasures, outward attractiveness & apparel, etc.
In fact, that message promoted by so many, even preachers, is that God wants us happy above all else. Their definition of happiness like that described above...healthy, successful, having a lot of material possessions.
But here we see that life/happiness comes from walking in the Spirit. It comes from saying no to the flesh (vs 6). It comes from knowing that we are no longer slaves of sin, but children of God who can call Him abba(daddy) (vs 15-16)! It comes from sharing in His suffering so that we might share in His glory (vs 17). It comes from resting in the sufficiency of His presence with us through the Holy Spirit (vs. 23). It comes as we focus not on how we feel right now, but on the new bodies and closeness we'll have with Him when He delivers us from the death and decay of this world and we made new along with all creation (vs. 23)! It comes when we realize that He is watching our back and when we don't even know how to pray or deal with circumstances, He intercedes for us to turn things for our ultimate good... which is to become more like Him (vs. 26-29). It comes when we realize that for His glory, He will give us victory over all who are against us (vs 31). It comes when we realize how committed He is to us. If He gave His only son for us, how much more will He freely give us everything else we need to really live life to the fullest for His glory (vs. 32).
We are happiest when we no longer question His love for us though we are in trouble, calamity, persecuted, hungry, destitute, in danger, threatened and or slaughtered for His name sake. No, peace is not found in stuff, but in the reality of His love demonstrated by His gift of life through Jesus. Happiness is not a new home, but a new heart secured by His suffering. Happiness is not good health, but a new body secured for us by His crucifixion. Happiness is not the applause of men, but the delight of God in us because of Christ giving us His righteousness. Happiness is believing that He always wins. Believing that we are overwhelming victors because of the sufficiency of His love for us.
Happiness is snuggling up in the palm of His hand completely at rest because nothing can even come close to separating us from His love that is revealed and sealed by Christ Jesus our Lord (vs. 35-39)!
So dive into His promises to you in Romans 8 and be happy that you are so loved...no matter what happens here (even though He will work "the here and now" stuff out for our good too).
