Christian Happiness

There are over 1,000 sermons that survive from the pen of Jonathan Edwards. I'm in the process of figuring out which ones to read and analyze for my dissertation project on Love to God in Edwards' theology. Of course I'm also beginning to read and research the sermons that make the cut. This daunting task is, as you might expect, a joy for me, but it turns into an even greater joy when I come across rich, practical theology to share with you.

In light of the many trials we do face in this life, it's always good to hear about this undeniable implication of the promise of Romans 8:28 (And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose). This is Jonathan Edwards, probably at age 18, preaching in the New Haven/New York City area in 1720/21. Here he explains one great reason that the Christian is surely happy regardless of his circumstances:

"Because no worldly evils can do him any real hurt. The good [man] is exalted out of the reach of all worldly evils; they cannot send forth their baneful influences so high as to touch him, and all the hurt they can do him is but as a sharp medicine. Although it be bitter, yet [it] takes away those diseases that would in the end, if they were let alone, be a thousand times more painful and troublesome to him. A good man may look down upon all the whole army of worldly afflictions under his feet with a slight and disregard (that is, as evils, for he ought to have the greatest regard to them as they are for his good), and consider with himself and joy therein that, however great they are and however numerous, let them all join their forces together against him and put on their most rueful and dreadful habits, forms and appearances, and spend all their strength, vigor and violence with endeavors to do him any real hurt or mischief, and it is all in vain. He may triumph over them all knowing this: light afflictions, which are but for a moment, shall only work out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, and, that although sorrow continue for a night, yet joy cometh in the morning: remembering God's promise that all things shall surely work together for his good, and nothing shall offend. If he loses all the worldly good things he has, his estate, friends and relations, or if his body is put to the greatest tortures and pains imaginable, he may consider that it is all best for him that it should be, and that all the hurt they can do him is only to his body. And our Savior has commanded us not to fear them that even kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do; and whatever the world does against him, he has that to comfort him, that Christ has overcome the world. How happy, then, must the condition of such a man be! Let any man now ask himself whether he should not think himself happy if he were delivered so from all those evils, that he was assured they would never trouble him more: if he were sure that he should never feel any more pain in his body, never have any want of any good things the world can afford, and never have any care and trouble [about] them; well then, is it not all one as if they never happened to him, if when they do happen to him they do him no hurt? Yea, is it not more than equivalent, if when they happen they not only do him hurt, but good? But this is the condition of a good man, and although good men are often grieved and troubled by worldly afflictions, and indeed they ought to be grieved for their sins, for the purging away of which their afflictions come, yet the godly has no occasion to be troubled any further about them (Matthew 5:3–4, Matthew 5:10–12)."

Now I know this isn't easy, but try not to be discouraged when God gives you a tablespoon (or two!) of "sharp medicine." Trials don't come because God isn't loving; they come because he is. He knows what you need. And sometimes sharp medicine is what you need...that is, if you're interested in an eternal weight of glory (ie. a thousand years of pure joy with God, followed by a thousand years of pure joy with God, and so on, and so on...!). May we all have strength to face our trials in the knowledge of God's great and precious promises to us in Jesus. Truly, how happy ought we be that all things are working for our good.