River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-04-13

WHAT mas been the greatest JOY III
your life" The answers were many
and varied. One said: 1.-The awaken
ing from long desperate illness.
Another: "My return home after an
exile" A third: "My chief joy is
that Of watching the unfolding life
of my child" Others found their
greatest joy in reading, in writing. In
passing successfully through tests and
examinations, in parental or filial aft
lection, in deeds of helpfulness, in the
love of the beautiful, and SO on.
Many of the answers showed that
the greatest joys were consigned to
the attics whose windows opened to-
wards heaven. That is, they were re-
ligious joys, joys of the spirit in fell
lowship with God. Here is one: Il
know Of no joy in all my life to be
compared with the joy / had when
trusted Jesus Christ with my souls
salvation for time and eternity" Here
is another: "My wholehearted sur
render to God on a certain Sunday
afternoon, and the consequences ther-
to, have brought to me the greatest
joy and comfort / know, through the
experimental proof of Christ's own
words, If the Son shall make you free,
We shall be free indeed" A third
said: 1.-THE greatest joy in my life
came when l realized that / was a
part of Gods great plan of redemp-
ton, and not a mere atom of creation
with no meaning in my existence, and
no goal in view."
What was the greatest JOY in the,
life of the writer of our text? Was 1t
at the moment when the Lord Jesus
met him on the Damascus way? Was
it when there fell from his eyes as
1t had been scales" and the darkness
disappeared, and the true light shone
into his soul? Was it in the solitudes
of Arabia, or when he was caught up
to the third heaven, or when he was
in the Philippian Jail at the time of
the earthquake, and sang praises unto
God?
Whatever spiritual delight these
separate experiences might have
brought to him we do not know. The
Apostle never presents them as ex-
periences to be copied after. Indeed,
he seldom refers to them. For him,
the greatest joy in life was the life
of joy. Rejoice in the Lord always"
This was the reflection of his inner
most being. The call of his life, and
the call of the text is the constant
abiding joy which goes with one
through the years, giving the necessary
comfort and strength for all occasions
and causing one to triumph over the
adverse forces of sin, Satan and cir
cumStanceS
This is emphasized in the epistle
from which the text Is taken. At
the time Of writing, he was prisoner
in Rome. This meant broken plans,
unfulfilled purposes, unrealized ex-
pectations, but plans and purposes had
been made subject to revision. Paul
believed that events were controlled
not by blind forces or by the reign Of
law, but rather by personal and low
ing Law Giver, who was over all, and in
all and through all. Hence, he could
rejoice even though his itinerary had
been disrupted and a change neces-
STATED.
The promotion Of work of the Lord
was more to him than personal in
terests or personal convenience. This
is ar important factor in joyous
Christian life.
Another possibly distressing feature
of his imprisonment was the loss of his
immediate oversight, and the con-
,sequent lack of development, in the
churches that he had founded and
fostered, but over against this, he per-
ceived the power of God operating.
for many of the brethren, enthused
and encouraged by the example of his
faithfulness, were emboldened to speak
the Word without fear, and even
though their testimony was imperfect,
Christ was preached, and in that
the apostle rejoiced.
The Joy of his heart found express
sion in. prayer, for, ne writes: Il thank
my God upon every remembrance of
you, dlNuyS All every prayer Vi lhluSs
making request with Joy for your
fellowship in the Gospel" His joy
was increased because of the fellowship
Of service with him into which his
converts were brought. They were
one with him now, not only as par
takers of the divine life I'm Christ. but
as partners in the promotion of the
Gospel. Thus did God make all things
work together for good in the eX-
perience of His servant.
Life's greatest Joy is found IL
constant adjustment to the prov
the power and the purpose Of e
springs from that full pe
heart that God is in MI th
all things, and over III
this persuasion. one
the Lord always"