Happiness

Every language and people have a word for it. Happiness. Some say it’s a feeling, others call it an emotion. The problem with emotions is they are always in motion. That is why the authors of our Constitution described the "pursuit" of Happiness as a right. Finding it is something else.  In Chinese, the word is Xi. In Mathew 5 the word is Makarios, often translated “blessed.” This is a happiness from above that transcends circumstances and transforms difficulties by divine grace. Poor become rich, the weak become strong, the last become first. It is found by faith and founded upon God’s Word. It’s God’s Salvation and Grace getting the sinner’s heart ready for Heaven. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.  We sing “Happy Birthday.” The Native American Indians spoke of Heaven as the “Happy Hunting Ground,” (which it is not). Happiness, whatever it is, everyone wants it. Abraham Lincoln said, “most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” It’s not that simple. Sin is the fly in that ointment. Sin brings nothing but sorrow. Real happiness is not a right, it is the result of being right with God. Jesus, speaking of God’s Word said, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them.” There is a chorus that sums it up. “Trust and Obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to Trust and Obey. That is the way to spell Happiness.   -id