The gospel of Christ is a gospel of joy. Never forget that the gospel is "good tidings of great joy." That is how it is described in the Book of books—the Bible. And do not forget the words that follow: "Which shall be to all people." Luke 2:1010And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10). It is clear that there is a gospel of joy, and it is also clear that it is for you. Have you believed the glad tidings? Are you rejoicing in eternal life?
Now, do not make any mistake as to the gospel of joy. Be careful to remember that the gospel does not make people happy in their sins. It makes them happy by delivering them from their sins. There must be freedom before there can be joy, and we know that there can be no freedom in slavery to sin.
When the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, announced His mission, He said He was come to "preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:1818The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18). His salvation is a mighty deliverance. It takes possession of the heart; it overcomes the world, and makes its possessor the Lord's free man. You know real joy if this deliverance is your experience.
The world tells you that if you get converted to God you will cease to enjoy life. But the truth of the matter is that it is only when you receive God's salvation that you can begin to enjoy life truly. The world cannot give a true testimony in this question, for it speaks of a thing it knows nothing about by actual experience. If a man has not known the joy of redeeming love, how can he compare it with worldly pleasure?
If up till this time you have missed salvation's joy you have missed the greatest and the only true abiding joy to be found on earth.