Joy and Madness!!!

A few weeks ago I was helping a brother with some of his struggles and doubts. They are the same doubts that I have had time and time again and the Lord has been the one that has kept me through them. It come sometimes when I look around at the world and see that things are broken and that they seam almost hopeless, I know that I am not good and I know that I cannot do anything myself. The thing that compounds it is the fact that there are all kinds of unbelievers who are walking around saying that life is great and that everything is perfect, they would rather be no one else.

How can this be? Can the Gospel be true if I am so down and the wicked around me are in constant bliss? I thought that I was supposed to be happy and find joy in all things, but my spirit is crushed. At this point despair for the saved can be great and troubling. Without saying to anyone they quietly doubt in the promises of Christ. I have been their too! I know that Christ’s words are the words of life, but how can so many who do not know Him walk without any fear or longing? This struggle is not uncommon to the people of God, so take encouragement.

I believe that there are two major things going on during a time like this. One, in the lost and one, in the believer.

“I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines,[a] the delight of the children of man.

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 2.1-11 (ESV)

What we have here is madness. The life of the unbeliever that looks great and looks wonderful is actually just the mad rant of a crazy person. They do not know of the disease they have and they do not understand the truth that is so plain for them to see. They walk around and see things as though they were all according to plan but they do not understand the world around them and much less the things of Heaven. They have taken to the things of the world to bring them happiness and good times, little do they know that they are being deceived and that the things of the world are fleeting and passing away.

“And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.” ‘Then he said, “This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself,” ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ “But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Mark 12.16-21 (ESV)

Like the man in the parable, they are blind to the things around them and they do not know of what befalls those who disbelieve God. So what appears as joy in these unbelievers is actually madness for they know not all the things of God. Do not envy over this fleeting blind madness, instead seek the true happiness that come from God.

For the believer there suffering comes from what all sin spawns from, unbelief. To the one who God has given eyes to see and ears to hear, they see the fallen state of the world. They know that there is no good in it and that it all is damned if the hand of the Lord were ever to depart. Looking around they see a world that is grim and bleak, and know that there are all sorts of problems. The believer is prone to compare his life and be depressed that they have so little, seeing the multitude around them that seams to be prospering in every way.

"Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time?Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?"
Psalm 77.7-9 (ESV)

Take encouragement, for the Lord is the Lord of things not seen. This world is not your final dwelling. You have hope in something much greater and have been promised by one who’s promises are strong. You have been called to something greater. You have been called to Joy! Joy is a gift and God wishes it upon His children. We suffer now but the day of the Lord is coming and the sin that entangles us within this broken world will be thrown off and we will live with God in the city of lights. Our hope is not for this world, but for the things to come, and remember the one who promised. Live Heaven minded and cast your cares on the Lord.

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6.12 (NIV)

Know your struggle with doubt is not uncommon. Remember the promises of God and the might works of His hands.

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph…
When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled.The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side.The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
Psalms 77.11-20

That speaks of your Father, take encouragement that He has called you as His child. It is the greatest calling one can hope to receive upon the Earth. There is no greater honor that can be bestowed upon a man then to be called by God. So, do not envy the false happiness but ask the Father for Joy and felicity.

My Felicity

I am Forest Gafford, and this is my blog. I have entitled this blog Forest’s Felicity because in it I will discuss the thing that brings me happiness. The question then is what is that thing…

I have found these proverbs to be helpful in my search.

“There is nothing better for a man then to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can drink without him? For to a person who is good in His eyes He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.”
Ecclesiastes 2.24-26

“I know there is nothing better for them then to rejoice and do good in ones lifetime; Moreover that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor – It is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 3.12-13

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and to enjoy one’s self in all ones labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as to everyman to whom God has given riches and wealth, he has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward, and rejoice in his labor, this is a gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”
Ecclesiastes 5.18-20

Clearly throughout the entire book of Ecclesiastes Solomon comes to this same conclusion over and over again. The only thing that can gift true happiness, a happiness and joy that keeps one form nostalgic recollections of former times because of his current overflow of happiness, is God.

True happiness is not something that we can attain on our own. No, it instead is something that is gifted by God. So, this means that we should not be looking for it, but that we should be asking for it. If you read all the book it makes it clear that it is not the food or the drink he talks of that bring happiness, because that can be done without receiving happiness at all. So my felicity is not something that I can chase after, as though it could be caught (like chasing the wind [Ecc. 1.6], that so many people do). Solomon tried to find it and really found nothing but madness and grief; yes, even knowledge failed him, for nothing else can deliver what is God’s to gift. The best I can do is plead for happiness and joy when I ask for my daily bread in the name of Christ. In this we should will place my hope and hope will not disappoint.

One more thing, that even in the times of suffering and the times of pain there is the great hope of things promised by God.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5.4

Also there is a greater hope that God has gifted to all God’s children, the promise of the life to come. This promise should forever change the way His children view suffering and strife.
“But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.”
Hebrews 10:32-34

So I have created this blog to share my heart and findings and so that others might share in the felicity that God has granted to me. Other men have taught and helped me in coming as far as I have in this great happiness. So similarly to the authors of scripture, I write these things so that both readers and I might have our joy made complete.