4/29/2012 Our founding fathers had a clear vision of why people left the oppression and
tyranny of Europe and came to the “new world”. A familiar phrase in The
Declaration of Independence refers to it as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness”.
This past Friday, Dennis Prager said he was convinced that most people mistakenly think of happiness as the result of good circumstances rather than an endeavor of pursuit. I think he is right. We are programmed by the world to think of happiness as the product of desireable conditions. With that frame of reference, it is no wonder that people spend their lives pursuing “good conditions” which are supposed to bring them happiness.
Sadly, this is one of the great lies of Satan. This is why the social reformers of our day and bygone generations spend their lives trying to “redistribute the wealth”. They would argue that by helping the poor raise their standard of living, the level of happiness will also go up. If this was the case, then poor people or the destitute in third world countries could never be happy. Yet, we know this is not the case; many are very happy. Happiness is not the result of position, posessions, or power. The problem is that the modern materialist has not learned a simple truth taught by Jesus, i.e. that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abudance of the things he possesseth.” (Lk. 12:15). But if Satan can keep us busy chasing the wind and the allusion of happiness that we think the mundane will bring us, then he has accomplished his mission. Our souls are lost.
The only way to escape the maze of materialism is to change course. We must be honest with ourselves and make sure that we are pursuing the right goal. If we think “stuff” will bring us happiness, we are truly deceived. (Reread Ecclesiastes). We are, in effect pursuing a “black hole” - there is nothing that this world has to offer that can ever bring us true happiness.
The only real and lasting happiness is in the spiritual domain. God alone can satisfy the yearning of the soul for ultimate happiness. Proverbs 15:9 tells us that the Lord loves those who persue rightousness. Knowing that God is love and that He wants all men to be saved, should enable us to redirect our pursuits. Don’t listen to Satan’s lies—his is aim is our destruction.
What are you pursuing? Happiness? Make sure your on the right track—pursue righteousness. Ken Dart |
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