Title: The True Happiness/Romans 4:1~12
Contents True happiness/Romans 4:1~12
“If Abraham was justified by works, he would have something to boast about, but not before God… ” (Romans 4:1-12)
Word: The London Times conspired to define a ‘happy person’. 1st place was a child who completed a sand castle, 2nd place was a mother who had bathed her baby, 3rd place was a carpentry whistling after completing detailed crafts, and 4th place was a doctor who successfully performed a difficult operation and saved a life. The definition of a happy person did not include emperors, nobles, high officials, wealthy people, or famous celebrities. Today, we introduce two people who have tasted a happy life.
First, it is the happiness that Abraham enjoyed. (Romans 4:1~3) God delivers amazing news to Abraham, who lived helplessly without any dreams and hopes for the future because he had no children until he reached the age of 75. “Abraham, leave your homeland and your relatives and your father's house and go to the land that you have indicated, and you will become a source of blessings and give you a son whom you have been longing for.” Holding on to those words, Abraham makes a great decision in life. It seems that the early immigrant life in the land of Canaan was just as successful. But Abraham complains. “When will you give me the son you promised?” “Abraham, let us go out for a little while, and lift up your eyes and look at the stars in the sky, and so shall your descendants be.” Abraham's happiness was in the life of believing in the promise of the birth of countless descendants to come. (Genesis 15: 6)
Second, it is the happiness that David enjoyed. (Romans 2:6-8) There is no one in the history of Israel who loved God as much as David. But despite having great faith like David, his life's journey was fraught with imperfections. blinded by lust, he commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of his loyal general, Uriah. To cover his sin, David orders Uriah to go out into the depths of the enemy camp and eventually kills him. And he welcomes Bathsheba as his concubine. David's greatest suffering was adultery with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah. But if the Lord covers his sins and forgives them, there is no such joy in David's happiness. The seed of sin is death, but if you believe in the Lord and repent, He will lead you to life in the shadow of death.