Joy to the World

“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (Philippians 1:18 ESV)

Joy is a theme in Paul's epistle to the Philippians--a theme we will explore further as we progress. Joy is listed among the 'fruit of the Spirit' in that famous passage from Galatians. In that sense, joy is a product of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. But first and foremost joy is an attribute of God, and God is the source of all true joy in the world. In fact, the greatest joy in the universe is to be found only in the presence of God.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”Psalm 16:11 ESV

When Adam fell, and we along with him, we lost our worthiness to be in the presence of God, and with that we lost our right to know true joy. It is our sin which has brought misery into the world. (All misery is the result of sin, either directly or indirectly.) It is God, in Christ, who has chosen to bring joy back into the world and offer it to us freely. But he does not offer it to us apart from Himself. The joy he offers is the joy of being restored to his presence.

True joy is only found in Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ has paved the way for us to be accepted back into the presence of God. This is why the coming of Jesus caused Isaac Watts to pen the words to the hymn "Joy To The World". In a very true sense Jesus Christ has come into the world to restore lost joy, for he has come to bring us back into, restore for us our place in, the presence of God,

So when people preach Christ, whoever they are and for whatever reason, Paul rejoices. He rejoices because the very name of Christ means joy to him. He rejoices because the message of Christ is the message of joy to a miserable world. He rejoices because the more Christ is proclaimed, the closer we come to the day when all things will be made new, and all the world will be enveloped in joy.

Where is your joy? Is there joy in your life? Sin promises joy, but trust me, sin only delivers misery. Sin is deceitful. God, on the other hand, is faithful and keeps his word and God has promised us joy in Jesus Christ. Do you know joy? Do you know Him? Have you told someone else about Him? Joy is offered you in the gospel--true and lasting joy. Come to Christ and know what it means to experience this.