As we anticipate the annual celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, chip in Georgia

writes in to ask this,

Pastor John, Christian hedonism seems to say that our deepest longings in this life can

only be satisfied by God, and it's only in him that we can be truly happy.

If God makes us happier than people who simply pursue the world, why does Paul say we

are to be pitted most of all men if there is no resurrection? Isn't our life now,

even now, more satisfying than that of the non-Christian?

Would you say, Pastor John?

I'm smiling real big. I love sharp, biblically rooted questions, so I've asked this.

In fact, I've spoken on it years ago. I spoke to the Wickliffe folks in Cameron on this

very question, so I was trying to remember what I said. It is a really important and good

question rooted in 1 Corinthians 15. So let me just bring chip up and the rest of us to

where I'm thinking today. I don't know that I have the completely satisfying answer,

but I have some answers that have helped me.

Just a clarification to start with about Christian joy in this painful life. A huge part of our

joy as Christians is what Paul calls rejoicing in hope from Romans 5. In other words, joy is not

complete in what we can know and have of God here now. Our joy is in hope of what we will know

and have of God in the future also. Our joy here is a foretaste of the fullness of joy there,

and so it's not complete now. We see through a glass darkly and we know in parts,

so our joy is in part. It's strong now. It's deep now. It's enough to carry the day now,

but it's nothing near like what it will be. So Romans 5 2 says through him, we have obtained

access by faith into the grace in which we stand and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

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