Questions – Fun and Happiness

Question:

How can a person be a Christian and obey all the commandments and have any fun and happiness?

Answer:

There is a certain amount of pleasure in sin. Moses had to choose which he would rather have—the pleasures of sin for a season or suffer with the children of Israel. Paul tells us about that in Hebrews 11:24, 25. Notice that in this passage it indicates that “there are pleasures of sin for a season.”

Moses made a good choice when he chose to suffer affliction with the children of Israel rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Although his choice cost him many sleepless nights and much heartache, the end results were glorious, and his joys will last forever.

There are many sins that give emotional satisfaction for a short period of time. There are also many sins that give thrills, excitement, and even a certain amount of good exercise. And then there are sins that will make you rich with this world’s goods, such as money or other possessions. But there are no sins that will give you lasting pleasure and a sense of real joy and security.

The pleasures of sin are just the opposite of joy or security. They usually end up in unhappiness, misery, ill health, and a sense of fear and emptiness. When it is all over, there is no hope for the future even if you are rich. The fun and emotional excitement soon pass away, and you are left with no security, but God has an entirely different program.

God’s promises are sure and have results that last throughout eternity. While on this earth, Jesus said, just before He left to return to heaven, these words which were dear to the disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. Is that what we all want? Yes, it is peace and it brings happiness.

From the Bible, we also read: “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fullness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.” “but let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Psalms 16:11; 5:11; Galatians 5:22,23.

Then we have this wonderful promise: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:14-18.

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165.