Greetings in Christ,
How many times have we heard someone refer to being in a state of bliss? I wonder if the person really achieves the state of bliss. The state of bliss means to be in supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment.
We chase this illusion here on earth by filling our lives with the things we think will make us happy. We strive to obtain a better job. We strive to buy nice things. We strive to live in a nice home, town, and furnish the home with nice furniture. We try to pick friends we think will be nice to us and not give us grief. We search out churches we will feel comfortable attending. We constantly search out things we think will bring comfort or the state of bliss in our physical lives here on earth.
We look for the things we can look at, touch, eat, and makes us feel good. We do not always look beyond the things which are right in front of us. We are constantly bombarded by the never ending marketing schemes of the business world. We must wear newest fashion of clothing; after all it is the rage in clothing. We must but a new car for the old one is getting a few miles on it, and it really is not as shiny as the neighbor’s new Caddy. The house needs to be painted or repairs need to be done. We cannot entertain the whole neighborhood and all our friends so we must buy a bigger house with a huge backyard.
The need for the blissful state continues as we search for the state of mind given to us by the marketing world claiming we will find happiness in the things we purchase. There has to be truth in what is being said, or they would not be saying it especially on television or the internet. (Haha) The need to learn from man’s wisdom continues as the journey to find happiness leads to being distraught and burdened with the load of our decisions which have brought unhappiness. Do we really find the state of bliss—supreme happiness—in our pursuit of being comfortable with our lives?
Paul writes to the Corinthians and gives this advice to them. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” Paul was advising the people to listen to the Holy Spirit in the wisdom He knew to find true wisdom which came from God.
It is easy to get caught up in the world and all it has to offer, but it is not going to allow us to be blissful in our lives. We must sustain life here on earth, and having nice things here on earth are not a bad thing, but it should not be our focus or let it consume us.
The real reason we pursue things in life is to satisfy the spiritual longing which is empty and void. If we could cross over in our minds and hearts and live in the spiritual sense all the time, we could actually see just what we are missing in our lives. Unfortunately we cannot do this on our own, and we need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to see the spiritual void. It is only when we allow the Holy Spirit to show us our lacking can God shed His truth.
Jesus spoke to the people about the Holy Spirit in John’s account, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” Jesus was reminding the people they will forget the truth unless they have the Holy Spirit to guide them into the truth. Jesus knew they would not make it on the wisdom of man.
Will we ever reach a true state of bliss—yes! Isaiah records these words, “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze; their young will lie down together; and the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Then it will come about in that day that the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, who will stand as a signal for the peoples; and His resting place will be glorious.”
The true state of bliss resides in the truth of God. It will be the only place true harmony can exist. The knowledge of the truth of God has power beyond our imagination. It unlocks the other side of our being so we can see the spiritual side of our lives. It is in the living in our spiritual side of our lives can we find true happiness. It is the only side of our lives which will make perfect sense.
Imagine one day setting alongside a lion as we look upon the face of Jesus. We look across the way and we see others we know as they set amongst other creatures God has created. We are all in perfect harmony as we sing Holy Holy is God almighty. Now to me this is true bliss.
“The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Psalms 118:6
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” Psalms 118:14
“Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.” Psalms 145:3
“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His deeds.” Psalms 145:17
Lord help us to allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide. Open our eyes to our spiritual side so we can see Your truth. Amen
Blessings,
Mark Johnson
Psalm 118,145; Isaiah 11:1-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; John 14:21-29