Think On These Things

When happiness is spiritual failure

            It is becoming more common these days for Christians living in sin to say things like, “I only have one life to live and I’m going to live it to the fullest. I believe that God really only wants me to be happy.” Such thoughts demand consideration.

            First, let’s think about that “one life to live.” Hebrews 9:27 says, “…It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” I fear those who express the opening sentiments ignore the second part of verse 27. If judgment is just as certain as life (and is based upon the manner of our life, Romans 14:10-12) than wisdom dictates that our life be lived in a certain way. James 2:10-12 shows us that the proper way to live is God’s way. His way has been graciously revealed to us in the Scriptures, “the law of liberty.”

            Now let’s think about the statement, “I’m going to live it to the fullest.”  Whose “fullest” is under consideration? Whose standard is being used to decide when the “fullest” has been reached?  In 1 John 3:4 we read, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” The definition of sin is transgressing the law. God has graciously given us His law in the Scriptures, the perfect law of liberty. To do that which God’s law says not to do is to sin. To keep on doing it is to live in sin. That’s a problem. In the first chapter of Hebrews the writer endeavors to display the supremacy of Jesus Christ over angels. In verses 8 and 9 he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Our Lord hates wickedness, which is precisely what breaking His law is. Such a one may choose to live a wicked life but let him never imagine that it is being lived to the “fullest.”

            Now to the statement, “I believe that God only really wants me to be happy.”  Three thoughts are in order:

-Nowhere in Scripture does God ever say He only wants us to be happy. One may believe this but that belief cannot be the product of saving faith for saving faith comes by hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

-The very last thing God wants is for the person living in open sin to be happy about their decision. His patient forbearance is not a sign of acceptance, but of kindness designed to lead one to repentance (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

-How can one who has died with Christ (Galatians 2:20) find it in themselves to be happy in their decision to commit spiritual adultery (James 4:4) and turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them (2 Peter 2:21)? Such a one has spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29). Happy?  Whatever for!?

Let us all understand that to go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth is a terrible decision rife with terrifying spiritual consequences. To be happy in such a state is total spiritual breakdown and a tragic failure.