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
This is one of my favorite verses from the Psalms. Here I am reminded again that life – true life as it was designed to be lived – can only be found in fellowship with God. He is the One who created all life. As John 1:4 says, “In Him was life.” But not only that, true spiritual life and joy are gifts we can only get from Him. Why is that? Because spiritually speaking we all come into this world “dead in our sins” (Eph 2:1-5). Though we are born with physical life, we cannot have spiritual life until we are born again by the grace and mercy of God through faith in Christ. John 3:7, says “You must be born again.” What does that mean? It means the God who created life and sustains life gives us a new kind of life to be enjoyed in His presence forever (1 Pet 1:23). How? When by faith we turn from our self and sin and put faith in Christ alone. (2 Cor 5:17)
But here’s the truly amazing thing. This new life, which we call eternal life, is not just a life that never ends. It is a richer, more vibrant, spiritual life that awakens us to God’s presence, brings us into his fellowship, and gives us an assurance that we are His children forevermore. (1 John 3:1). The new birth makes us children of the Father who now have the privilege of living their lives here and for all eternity in dear fellowship with Him! And that is the source of our joy that nothing in this world can take away! Look at Psalm 16:11 again. Not only does God make the way of life known to us, He gives us a new life of “fulness of joy” as we walk daily with Him. He teaches us that there are pleasures to be had that far outstrip the temporary, paltry pleasures of this sad world. Are you living in the pleasure of His presence? Will you come to Him?
May the Lord grant us a refreshing in His presence today.
Pastor S Scott Lee