Who doesn’t deeply desire to be happy? Wise men have pointed out that we all want to be happy, but that many are seeking happiness in a way that makes it impossible to find. A Betty Crocker Cookbook contains thousands of recipes that bring happiness to our hungry bellies, but where oh where can a recipe for the lasting happiness of our hearts be found?
Most people would agree on many of the ingredients that make up a happy life. These would include:
Health
Friendship
Meaningful work
Family
Love
Laughter
Stability
Security
Positive outlook
These are definitely some of the wholesome ingredients that help make a happy life. Mix those ingredients together and stir until well blended and then you will have a happy life. Right?
Wrong! A person can have all those things in the right measure and still be unhappy. The reason for this is that, through the disobedience of our first parents, sin and death has entered the world.
Any recipe for happiness worth its salt must consider the truth that we are sinners in the sight of God. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)).
A recipe for happiness that ignores the truth that we are sinners couldn’t possibly be complete. It would be lacking the main ingredient, which is faith in the Redeemer of sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ. Only through faith in Christ may those who have sinned ever be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)).
A great many people who have a genuine appetite for happiness are insisting they can find happiness apart from God. But how could anybody be happy when they are living in unforgiven sin and headed to a lost eternity in the darkness and total misery of hell?
In truth, any recipe for a happy life that leaves out faith in the Savior is a pretty poor recipe indeed.
God knows exactly what we need for the well-being and happiness of our life and eternity. Without the Lord Jesus we will never know the lasting happiness of heaven. He is the way. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” the Lord Jesus said; “no man cometh to the Father but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).
Family, friends, love, laughter and more are all ingredients that go into making a happy life, but the most important ingredient by far is faith in Jesus Christ. He is ready to be part of your life the moment you repent of your sins and place your faith in His name.
If you want happiness in a marriage, be devoted to your spouse. If you want happiness in life, believe in the Lord Jesus. Being devoted to Him will come next.
Will you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that the everlasting happiness of heaven may be yours? “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).