Once upon a time, there was a town called Happy
Niceville. It seemed everyone in Happy Niceville, had a grin painted on their
face at all times, that is, except for Mr. Saint, who tended to have a drawn
pained look on his face. Neighbors couldn’t help but notice that there were
often loud sobs coming from Mr. Saint’s open windows. They wondered what could
possibly be wrong with the man and secretly wished he would move, for he was
contaminating the town’s reputation with his depressed state. Neighbors were
puzzled though as Mr. Saint occasionally sported a look of glee. They didn’t know what was worse, his
often strained look or his occasional look of glee. For if he were to wear his
look of glee all the time, how pitiful did their happy smiles become.
Mr. Saint seemed not to care for things others did. Every Sunday, he got up early and went off to church. He did not see the value in things like sleeping in or attending the neighborhood football party on Sundays.
Mr. Saint seemed not to care for things others did. Every Sunday, he got up early and went off to church. He did not see the value in things like sleeping in or attending the neighborhood football party on Sundays.
In the neighborhood, folks took pride in their
nice acts one toward another.
One man, Mr. Fauxnoble, mowed the lawn for
the old lady next door. He was quite pleased with himself for his good acts. Mr.
Fauxnoble was sure that God must also be pleased with him. His good works far
outweighed his bad. He was confident that he had earned his ticket to heaven
and bonus points to boot. He often took note of the sins of others and prided
himself that he was not like them. No, he was not like them at all. Boy oh boy
he thought, if those sinners don’t start working harder at their nice acts, they will surely be in trouble with God.
Every year, the town voted and gave
recognition to the nicest and happiest community member. Mrs. Folkidol won the Best Neighbor award
several years in a row. Folks were impressed by her efforts to help others and
her sweet smile. Mrs. Folkidol thrived off of the praise of others while
keeping a cool demeanor, she would simply blush and smile saying “it’s no big
deal” but inwardly she thought it was a big deal. She didn’t think much about
God or what he thought of her. She cared more for what people thought and as
long as she held high status among her neighbors, she was happy.
Mr. Saint though lacking the subtle air of arrogance
that permeated the town, could always be counted on in a time of need. Mr. Saint seemed not to want others to see his
good works, nor did he think highly of himself. In fact, Mr. Saint was caught a
couple of times, sneaking around the neighborhood, meeting the needs of others.
One time, a single mother working two jobs and straining to make ends meet noticed
an envelope under her rug on the porch. Inside was just enough money to get her
by until her next paycheck. The neighbor next door had witnessed Mr. Saint
stealthily walking across her lawn at dusk the evening before. Mr. Saint even
helped a man who had launched a malicious verbal attack on him due to his
Christian faith. (Of course the man had launched his attack with a friendly
grin on his face. He was a nice man after all.)
One day a neighbor got up the courage to
ask Mr. Saint about his curious ways. Mr. Saint, he asked, why do you commonly
have such a drawn pained look on your face and cry with loud sobs? And why do
you have an occasional look of glee? Why do you attend church every Sunday? What’s
the purpose in that? Explain to me, why do you show great kindness toward your
neighbors and even your enemy, yet debase yourself?
Mr. Saint replied:
I bear a cross. I fight a ravenous lion.
I walk through fires. God melts off dross
I swim through torrential waters
I’m chastened and refined
My face though strained
These pains I treasure
For I know, he’ll bring me forth as gold
My sin so easily besets me
My heart hardens against the One I love
The sobs are cries for mercy
And pains, I grieved my Love
Not only that. I look around me
And see everyone under a spell
A spell of happy niceness
But joy is lacking in their hearts
I cry for God to save them
To break them from the spell
To show them the misery
Of their sins- deserving hell
Oh that this town would see
That those who mourn are comforted (Matthew 5:4)
The looks of glee? He died for me
Christ my Savior died for me
With joy he bore my sins
I scarce can take it in
Though a strained look
You oft may see
Unspeakable joy is mine
And on occasion
Makes a brief appearance
In my expression
I go to church each week you see
To worship the Holy One
He calls me to worship
My soul pants after him
Won’t you join me this week Sir?
Faith comes by hearing (Partial quote of Romans
10:17 NKJV)
And hearing by the Word of God
My kindness to others
Is no platform for boasting
I am but a worm, a pitiful sinner
To God be the glory
He died for me. I therefore love him
He gave me love for neighbors
He makes my feet to walk
In good works he ordained
And with that Mr. Saint broke forth
singing his favorite Christmas hymn:
Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns:
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love
(Joy to The World, by Isaac Watts)
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns:
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love
(Joy to The World, by Isaac Watts)
God gives his children joy that is inexpressible through Jesus Christ our Lord. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It isn’t an emotion, rather it is a state of heart, a rejoicing in the Lord for his abounding grace toward us and a godly contentment. Sometimes, a believer's joy in the Lord does come forth in exuberant emotions but due to trials, persecution, temptations, and struggles with sin, the outward appearance of a Christian may be sorrowful . In the hearts of believers there is always joy, often mingled with sorrow. Our Lord bore our sins with joy. He was also a man of sorrows during his time on earth (Isaiah 53:53.) His brethren likewise are joyful yet sorrowful. Outside of Jesus Christ, there is no joy and no hope of salvation. Sin offers a fleeting toxic pleasure but not joy. Sin brings the miseries of death. Those that trust in Christ as their Savior are freed from sin and given joy in the Lord that will never cease. Those that trust in Christ, have eternal life and will one day be with him in heaven and all the sorrows of their pilgrimage will come to an end. The struggle with sin will be over and tears will be wiped away.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated
at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
