Therefore, I urge
you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do
not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's
will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
The assumption that human beings are born “to be happy” is
scarcely questioned by anyone in today’s society and the effect of this modern
hedonism is felt also among the people of God.
The Christian gospel is too often presented as a means toward
happiness, to peace of mind or security. There are even those who use the Bible
to “relax” them, as if it were a drug.
How far wrong all this is will be discovered easily by the
simple act of reading the New Testament through once, with meditation. There
the emphasis is not upon happiness but upon holiness. God is more concerned
with the state of people’s hearts than with the state of their feelings.
Undoubtedly the will of God brings final happiness to those who
obey, but the most important matter is not how happy we are but how holy!
The childish clamor after happiness can become a real snare. One
may easily deceive himself by cultivating a religious joy without a
correspondingly righteous life.
Go to God. Tell Him that it is your desire to be holy at any
cost.
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