Teen True And rue And
Everlasting Happiness
Everlasting Happiness
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash By Kayla M. Crum
f- lasting happiness in this sinful world.
W Appeasement
All humans have something they like to do, and all people have some- thing they do that makes them de- lighted. I have many engagements I go outside and play with my siblings. I enjoy running contests, and I try to ride my bicycle sometimes. All these activi- ties make me happy. Nonetheless, I will not want to ride my bike every day be- cause I would not want to do that con- tinuously. Running outside, throwing snowballs, and racing is not true and everlasting happiness.
True and Everlasting Happiness If any type of recreation is not true and everlasting happiness, then what is? Jesus Christ is the answer! He gives us true and lasting pleasure—a joy that is within us in good times, in bad times, and in between. J. C. Ryle, (1816- 1900), pastor and author, states in his book “Happiness:” The true Christian has a weak body and is frail like any other; they have feelings and passions like everyone born into this world; they live in a changing society. But deep down in
January/February 2024
e can do many things in this life that are fun. However, that enjoyment does not last
their heart, they have a mine of solid peace and substantial joy which is nev- er exhausted. This is true happiness.
This true happiness that J. C. Ryle
and I are discussing never lets us down, and we are never bored of it. Because it is Jesus. And we have this true hap- piness when the Lord opens our hearts and makes us born-again. Jesus never bores us, fails us, and surely never for- sakes us. Deuteronomy 31:6 declares, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Moreover, J.C. Ryle makes it clear that anyone can attain this happiness. He says, “It is a path which is open to all. It needs neither wealth, nor rank, nor intelligence in order to walk on it. It is for the servant as well for the master; it is for the poor as well as for the rich.” This path is for all. Ann Eliza Williams was a girl who lived in the 1800s. She did not follow God until a substantial spiritual trans- formation happened in her life when she was 9-10 years old. She was sick with a horrible lung disease and found great comfort in her times of distress in the Lord. Sadly, her time was to be little on Earth, but Ann rejoiced that her sufferings would be no more and that she would be with her Heavenly Father. William S. Plumer, Presbyterian
Theologian, and author of Plain and Simple Thoughts for Children and Par- ents tells of what Ann said to her friend when asked a troubling question on the last night of her life:
Some time during her last night on earth she awoke from a short slum- ber, and perceived a cold sweat upon herself. She asked if it was not the cold sweat of death. Her friend re- plied, “It may be, but if it is, I hope it gives you no concern.” She replied, “O no, death is sweet to me.”
Death was sweet to Ann because she was full of happiness—knowing she would be with her Savior. She had true and everlasting happiness in Je- words: “All is peace, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Conclusion
This world is full of various fun things. These blithesome activities make us happy, yet this delight we feel is not everlasting like the joy we feel when we are children of God. That pleasure is far better than anything this world can put forth. And with this joy, we can happily say, “All is peace, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Kayla Crum is a member of Trinity ARP Church in Woodstock, NB. She is 12 years old and enjoys reading and writing.
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