Sole Source of True Joy

Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

I was reading a short article on Augustine of Hippo and have decided to use this as my first class required blog post (1 down 9 to go!) The provided instructions for how I am supposed to approach this post is by summarizing for you what I read and some thoughts I have on it… (I’m sure that I've now got you on the edge of your seat ready to take in what wisdom opinions I have to offer.)

Who is Augustine of Hippo you might be wondering? Let me shed some light on him for you. Augustine was born in the year 354 to a devout Christian woman. He was raised in the Roman province by the name of Numidia, or modern day Algeria. In 391 while visiting the coastal town of Hippo he became ordained as a bishop… against his wishes.

*side note: how do you force someone to be ordained? Not sure how that works.

It seems though that Augustine accepted this role and devoted himself to the “clarification, exposition, and defense of the Christian faith against its external opponents and internal dissidents”. He is now considered to be one of the most important and well regarded writers of the Christian church.

One major piece of writing from Augustine is known as the Confessions. A majority of this writing focus’ on his autobiography but in the last few ‘books’ he talks about God as the source of true joy. This is the part that I actually found interesting.

For Augustine he argues that true joy can only be found or fulfilled through a relationship with God (Sounds about right to me!) By the world’s standards Augustine says that any joy found in material or natural things is only an appearance of joy because, while it (can) reflect God’s goodness and beauty, it is not true joy in and of itself.

Does this mean that we can’t be happy or find joy in our family, friends, job or hobbies? I don’t think so. But that happiness and joy will always be tainted by a world that is filled with sin. Each situation that we feel joy in is always shadowed by something of a lesser good which hinders the opportunity to experience pure, untainted joy.

I wrote in my last post about the passing of my dear friend Gene. Last night I went to his visitation and tomorrow I will be attending his funeral. As I say a final goodbye I am reminded of all the times that I had with Gene and the joy that it was to talk to him, to serve on mission trips with him and to worship with him; but what is more I am overwhelmed by the realization that he, right now, is experiencing the TRUE JOY of being with Jesus Christ in eternity.

That’s what life is all about isn't it folks? To be joyful in what we have today, to live in a God glorifying manner, and to anticipate a joy GREATER than anything we could experience here. Because at the end of the day we will be welcomed, just as Gene was days ago, to the Pure, Heavenly, Eternal JOY that is eternity with Jesus Christ.