Something noticed on a T-shirt provoked a bit of thinking this past week.
“Be Happy!”
This echoes a number of OTHER similar thoughts–some emblazoned on T-shirts, others on mugs or other saleable knickknacks.
“Be Happy And Smile!”
“Don’t Be Afraid To Be Happy!”
“Life Is Full Of Choices, So Choose Happiness!”
“Happiness Is A Choice. You Decide.”
These last two ‘Happiness’ thoughts seem to reflect the thinking of Émile Coué, a Frenchman whose most famous quote was “Every day in every way, things are getting better and better.”
Which brought to mind the question, “What does God’s Word have to say about happiness?”
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
–Psalm 37:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
–Philippians 4:4
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
–Proverbs 17:22
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
–Psalm 34:8
God’s Word seems to offer a CLUE to happiness.
God’s Word seems to tie happiness to the LORD.
God’s Word is SILENT on happiness springing from accumulating STUFF–although the Beatles did make a few bucks from a similar idea.
Which brings to mind OTHER questions which were ultimately provoked by the fleeting glance at a T-shirt slogan.
“Is happiness a choice? Can a man be happy because he thinks he is?”
IF ‘happiness’ is used synonymously with ‘contentment,’ then the answer if probably “YES!”
As being content with one’s lot in life IS a choice.
BUT, IF ‘happiness’ is a state of bliss, then the answer would have to be “NO!”
After all, can one be happy in the midst of squalor and chaos?
Unless one is a proponent of the phrase “Ignorance is bliss.”
[This begs the question, “Does the average person even know what true happiness is?“]
Happiness is ONLY a choice if the person choosing has control over all of the inputs into his life–which he most certainly does NOT.
What passes for “choosing to be happy” appears to be behavior MUCH MORE common and MUCH more observed.
In the modern world in which we live, what passes for “choosing to be happy“?
USUALLY, burying one’s head in the sand and IGNORING any unpleasant consequences which may arise in one’s life.
MORE: One Popular Method of NOT Preparing for the End Times
Just a reminder: ignoring unpleasantries is NOT the same thing as happiness.
DOES the reader believe he chooses whether he is happy or not?
IF the answer is “Yes.”, is the reader ecstatic all of the time?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 23, 2021.]
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
MORE: Be Happy?
MORE: Can Man Even Understand Being Eternally Happy?
MORE
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Photo by Alex Block on Unsplash.com
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