Much is made these days of the word 'appropriate'. To be appropriate is to be suitable, or proper, in the circumstances. Yet, too, much is made of the pursuit of happiness in the world. We flee from feelings of shame, guilt, sorrow, and sadness, and develop pseudo psychologies in our flight - psychologies that can be touted in memes on social media - psychologies that leave us ever more empty inside. This wayward pursuit in the dark is unending, because it is a pursuit to no where except a true place called hell. Hell is the final destination of this dark and wayward pursuit of happiness. What does the Bible say about the appropriate way to be? The way of liberty and true freedom inside? First, the Bible tells us that the truth will set us free.
James 4:1-10 says, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
In the United States Declaration of Independence it tells of 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness' in regard to human rights. Yet here in this scripture we see that if we want to be 'lifted up' by God from this endless struggle in the pursuit of happiness, and self fulfillment, it is appropriate to lament, mourn, and weep! God cannot lift us up until we humble ourselves before Him. This is appropriate, and much needed in the human psyche. Do you feel sorrow in your heart? Do not be ashamed to feel sorrow! It is appropriate! God loves the broken hearted. Psalms 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit."
Jesus said, in Matthew 5:3-4, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted."
So, we see that in order to achieve the comfort we so desperately crave it is first appropriate to recognize and experience our great sorrow. Where does this sorrow come from? The heavy weight and destruction of sin in our lives, and on the world. So many are going to spend eternity in hell. is this not cause for great lamentation, weeping, and mourning? Why should we not mourn? This is sorrowful news! Why should we not feel shame rather than squelch our God given conscience? We are guilty! In Ezekiel we see that God says He will save His people, yet He will not allow them to forget where they came from - their sinfulness. God even says they will loathe their selves for their former sinfulness.
Ezekiel 36:25-32 says, 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”
Do you feel feelings of shame? Do you feel guilt? Are you sad within, and don't know why? Do you believe you should feel differently than you do? I ask you to please trust in the Lord. You can come to God, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, at any time and tell Him the truth of how you feel. Do not ignore your burning conscience. Humble yourself before God so He may lift you up, through Christ Jesus our Righteousness. Do not deny your feelings as incorrect. Recognize them as appropriate. The only incorrect feelings are those of pride and disdain. These cannot be remedied except a person repent of them, and loathe their self in the sight of God for such errant hubris - unless this prideful one repent, and be ashamed and confounded for their own ways. Such a one places their self beyond God's grasp, as a Prodigal Son, until they return home in appropriate sorrow and defeat.
Finally, there is great hope for all! Ezekiel 18:20-32 tells us: 20 "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. 21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die. 25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. 27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. 28 Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair? 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”
God desires no one to perish. Repent. Turn to God, and live. Herein you will find peace and rest for your soul. Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."
