111. Gladness and Joy
Isaiah 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
The Lord Himself will wipe the tears away from our eyes when we reach the Final State of eternity in the New Jerusalem. “Sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” This promise will come true then, but it is also true for now since Jesus came to the earth to bring joy to the world. While we live in this vale of tears we suffer with sorrow and mourning. Loved ones die, we are dying, heartaches and troubles surround us day and night. In the midst of life we are in death, but also, in the midst of death we are in life. The joyful life that is free from sorrow is with us and in us every time we hear the Gospel.
The Gospel refreshes the soul with gladness and joy. Eternal joy is upon us who believe in Jesus Christ. This joy is eternal; it lasts forever, not like the momentary thrills and the temporary joys of life on earth. No party, no vacation, no weekend, no high lasts forever. We always crash afterward. But the everlasting joy that the redeemed enjoy fills them deeply today and lasts for millions of tomorrows. We are guaranteed gladness and joy forever after we die, but that kind of joy is presently ours right now. It is true that we live in two worlds: one is full of death and sorrow; the other is full of life and joy. By faith we may turn to the Lord any time and enter into the joy of the Lord. This joy is nearby; it is within reach; indeed, it is right within us, in our very belly, out of which flows the Spirit of joy.
We do live in depressing times; however, the promise of God is that sorrow and mourning shall flee away and be replaced with everlasting joy. Since we live in both worlds, both joy and sorrow are ever present. On which one will we focus our attention and our hope? Turn to the Lord, behold the glory, and be transformed. Why suffer sadness when joy is so close?