Spotlight 15: Double certitude
District Apostle Bernd Koberstein from Germany writes about the double certitude that we have been given—a cause for joy in all circumstances.
The topic of joy is multifaceted. A number of aspects have already been covered in other spotlight articles: joy that is derived by serving, the various sources of joy, and how joy can be conveyed.
In one of the articles a Bible text was quoted, 2 Corinthians 5: 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” I would like to pick up on this and complement it. With the gift of the Holy Spirit we have received divine life, meaning that Christ dwells within us. If we give His life and nature room to develop, and let the Holy Spirit rule our hearts, we are in Christ and will endeavour to reveal His nature more and more. This will fill our hearts with joy.
What does this joy look like? In John 15: 11 it says, “These things I have spoken to you,that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” What was the joy of Jesus? Let us look at what He had told the Apostles just before. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” (verse 9). His joy was to be loved by His Father. And with this same love He loves us—without any compromises.
Joy in Christ is the assurance that our heavenly Father and His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, love us.
His joy was also expressed in the words, “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father” (John 16: 28). That was not only a certainty for Him but also His joy.
Joy in Christ is the assurance that we are on our way to the Father. The bridegroom of the soul will come and lead His bride home.
These two examples make clear how important our faith is: we believe in the return of Christ. They show that we are assured of God and Christ’s love also in difficult times. Especially when things become difficult and we find ourselves in situations that we just do not understand any more, let us not lose heart but firmly believe in the assurance that God loves us and is with us.
If we keep faith we will be able to experience joy in Christ even in times of affliction. This joy is not subject to the circumstances that we live in. And those who have this joy can radiate it and share it with others. This sets a marvellous cycle of divine joy into motion: we radiate the divine joy we have and share it with others—and it comes back to us. Finally the moment will come of which Apostle Peter wrote, “… you [will] rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1: 8–9).
