Fulness of joy.
The natural effect of sin is to quench all desire after God, deaden all sense of his presence; to make the thought of him unwelcome, even terrible. "I heard thy voice … and was afraid." The beginning of spiritual life is turning to God. Its highest attainments, joy in God. The supreme happiness to which it looks forward, fulness of joy in his presence.
I. God has bestowed on human nature A WONDERFUL CAPACITY FOR JOY. The sunshine of the heart, in which "all the flowers of life unfold:" Look at the child with a birthday gift, a game, a holiday. Joy shines in his eyes, sets him singing and dancing. As our nature expands, and life's varied experience gathers strength, such simple exuberance of joy becomes impossible; but its sources are deeper, more manifold. No longer a dancing brook, but a deep well, sometimes brimming over. AS the Bible is fuller than all other books of human life, so you can nowhere match the fulness and variety of its images of joy. Beside its warm Eastern pictures, our Western modern life looks bleak and sad. But above the whole range of common life, it opens the range of spiritual joy—the joy of forgiveness, of salvation, of knowledge, of trust, peace, security; of fellowship with God in Christ (John 15:11; John 16:20, John 16:22). Higher still the Scripture lifts our thoughts—to the joy of angels; to God's own joy (Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10, Luke 15:32; Zephaniah 3:17).
II. GOD IS THE SOURCE OF ALL JOY. Even the gladness of the frisking lambs, of the gnats dancing in the sunshine, of the lark singing in the sky, is his gift; even as the momentary twinkle on the breaking spray is the sun's image. All pure joy is from God. There are impure joys—"the pleasures of sin." But as the mountain stream is pure at its source, though in its course through plains and cities it becomes foul and tainted; so the original desires and affections of our nature are pure. Sin alone corrupts.
III. JOY UNKNOWN BEFORE, AND ELSE UNATTAINABLE, comes into human life through faith in the Saviour—our crucified, risen, glorified Lord. "Then were the disciples glad" (John 20:30). Well they might be; for the heaviest grief human hearts ever suffered was in a moment rolled away, and "life and immortality brought to light."
1. The joy of forgiveness—of knowing we are right with God (Romans 5:11).
2. Of strength, safety, courage, comfort, in fellowship with Christ (John 14:18).
3. The joy of hope (1 Peter 1:8).
IV. "FULNESS OF JOY;" Joy unalloyed, complete, enduring, is not for this world. Not possible where all fairest flowers fade, fruits wither, brightest days have their sunset, fountains run dry. "In thy presence," etc. There will be many sources of "everlasting joy" (Isaiah 35:10) in the heavenly life: society, deliverance from pain, grief, sin, conflict, etc. (Revelation 7:15-17). But the source of all, "the fountain of living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13), wilt be God's presence (Roy. 21:22, 23).
CONCLUSION. Is this the heaven we desire; for which we are preparing? There is no other prepared for us. In that measure in which the presence of God, realized by faith, love, prayer, is a source of joy here and now, we have the earnest and pledge of "fulness of joy" for ever.
HOMILIES BY C. CLEMANCE