The Daily Word of Righteousness

Created To Play, continued

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. (Psalms 98:4-9—NIV)

The horrific dungeon of self-seeking, self-centeredness, self-will is burned out of us. In its place is written a song: "I delight to do Your will, O God. Your law has been written in my mind that I may understand it; in my heart that I desire to obey it in every detail and at all times."

Notice (in the above passage) why there is so much joy, why all nature shouts and sings for joy. It is because of the prospect of the Lord returning to the earth and judging the world in righteousness. It is sin that brings misery. When we are removed from sin, then righteousness, peace, and joy follow. This is the Kingdom of God.

For six thousand years mankind has sought peace and joy, but peace and joy have eluded the world. Peace and joy can only be found where there is righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God.

To the present hour the nations have not understood the relationship between righteousness and joy and continue in their sin and rebellion. But within the Christian churches there are people who are pressing forward in Christ, and Christ is teaching them the relationship between righteousness and joy—not imputed righteousness and imputed joy but actual righteousness and actual joy.

Such will return with the Lord Jesus and bring judgment and peace to the saved nations.

The most marvelous condition by far into which a human being can enter is that holy of holies where his will and God's will are one and the same; where what he desires most intensely is what God desires for him most intensely. Such a state of being is worth more than all the wealth of the heavens.

Then, and only then, does he have the right to play, and is able to play, throughout the universe, worlds without end, ages without end.

Of the increase of Christ's Kingdom and of peace there shall never be a conclusion, a termination, a finish. A billion years from now, as measured by earth's time, the romance will have germinated and the first green shoots have appeared above the ground. The baby will have cried the announcement of his entrance into the world.

Rejoice! Evil is a dark cloud that soon will pass. God and His sons then will have all eternity to play. For this He created the worlds. The universe is one great playground for the children of God.

As in the beginning, holy language is poetry. Nature is a dance. All the heavens are singing the eternal praise to God and the Lamb. The darkness is passing. The future is bright indeed for those who can truly play!

In the Presence of the Lord there is fullness of joy. At the right hand of the Lord there are pleasures forever. Your journey is toward joy, toward the desires of your heart. (from Created To Play)