“REAL JOY”

9 “So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 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. 11 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 2:9-11

Kurt Cobain was the frontman of the massively popular grunge band Nirvana. During 1991-1994, his band sold over 75 million records worldwide and released four number 1 albums, making them one of the most successful recording artists in history.

But despite his fame and wealth, Cobain suffered from chronic depression. He struggled with the pressures of success and felt trapped by the high expectations of the music industry. So he resorted to heroin to numb himself to the pain of his heart. 

In March of 1994, while in Rome, he overdosed on Rohypnol and champagne, leaving him in a coma. A month later, at 27 years old, his life ended from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His body was found on April 8, 1994, in the greenhouse of his Seattle home, alongside a suicide note.

In yesterday’s blog, we were reminded that only Jesus gives realistic hope. Here's another thing you should keep in mind as you try to evangelize people who do not care.

Talk about real joy.

You have probably heard the saying, “Everybody wants to be happy.” Quite frankly, that’s what people are running after. We do what we do because we ultimately want to be pleased. But is the pursuit of happiness the ultimate purpose of life?

Unfortunately, our search for happiness is destined to fail if God is not part of the equation. Money is hard to find but easy to lose. Relationships end. Friends and family pass away. Our strength and youth expire. Therefore, if our happiness is dependent on things or people, we will eventually find ourselves feeling extremely lonely and miserable.

Solomon, the presumed writer of Ecclesiastes, was once the richest, wisest, most powerful man on earth. No one matched his brainpower and wealth. He worked harder than anyone else, but he also made sure he didn't deprive himself of good times. Each time he desired something, he bought it and enjoyed it. What's more, he found pleasure in the company of women—hundreds of them! And he saw this gratification as his reward for his work. But at the end of the day, he was still unhappy. He eventually concluded that his massive achievements and capacity for pleasure did not mean anything. It was all "like chasing after the wind."

Both Solomon and Kurt Cobain could attest to the pointlessness of seeking worldly happiness. Where does this leave us?

God is the source of real joy.

11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16:11

Real life is found in Christ alone; so is joy. When we seek Christ, not only do we find life, but also pure, inexpressible joy. It’s no wonder that millions of Christians courageously faced persecution and even death because their hearts were full of joy. This joy is not the mere presence of positive emotions and the absence of negative emotions. It is not the state of emotional well-being when good things happen. Rather, biblical joy is a lasting fruit that comes from God Himself. It results from trusting that God will fulfill His promises.

Conclusion

How do you share the Gospel with someone who doesn’t care?

• Wrestle in prayer.
• Let your care communicate the Gospel.
• Talk about real joy.

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash