Sadness & Misery

I have been convinced for a while now that there is far more misery and sadness than joy and gladness in our world. Oh yes there certainly is joy and gladness but put it on one side of the scales and misery/sadness on the other and see which wins.

But it is God's world. So why the large amount of misery and sadness?  The Fall. Genesis 3 explains it all. And the corruption of sin and depravity that spring from the fall is the reason for the misery and sadness in our world today.  A Puritan guy called Thomas Boston wrote as follows: "Let us not complain of the miseries we are exposed to ... while we are in this world.  Here (the corruption of our nature) is the venom that has poisoned all the springs of earthly enjoyments we have to drink of. It is the corruption of man's nature that brings forth all the miseries of human life in churches, states, and families, and in men's souls and bodies."

OK then, how are we going to cope with living in such a fallen world?  First we can sprinkle our world and lives with things that give us respite and bring us joy.  Surely this was one of the reasons for the many feasts and festivals in the Old Testament? God wanted his people to meet so as to rejoice together in the goodness and salvation of God.  Second we can spread the gospel so that people are regenerated and become new creatures whilst living in an old world. This does not rapture them from misery and sdness, but it does enable them to spread good news and the joy of the Lord wherever they go. Third, we can pray for the return of Jesus and the coming of that Eternal World of Joy, where instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree and the mountains and hills will burst into song and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Your servant

Paul