Well, it's a blunt question, and it's a personal question.

And it's a question from the UK, from a listener named Tim, who asks this, Pastor John,

my question is simply this.

Is John Piper happy?

You're clearly convinced biblically by Christian hedonism and have shown so hopefully over

the many years how pursuing enjoyment in God brings him great glory.

But how has this worked out in your life experience?

How much of your Christian hedonism rests on the hope of the future and being glorified

with Christ?

Bottom line, are you happy right now?

I have asked this question to myself many, many times, not only because I have written so

much about the importance, indeed, in dispensability of being happy in God, but also because the

Bible simply says to John Piper, rejoice in the Lord John Piper.

And again, I say, rejoice, it's not a matter of mere personality, as Tim points out, it

is a command of scripture.

So I take up the question, not because I feel any external constraint coming from one

of our listeners, but because I live with the question all the time, because I live with

the Bible all the time.

So before I answer, and I will give a straight out answer to the question, is John Piper

happy now ever before I answered the question specifically, let me mention the biblical factors

that make the question more complex than a simple yes or no would indicate, even though

I'll try to give one.

...