Joy For The Journey

I am concerned that we are too focused on the trip rather than the destination.

Joy comes in anticipating our destination, not necessarily the ‘getting there’.

A visit to Grandma, Grandpa and the cousins in Waterloo, IA was a rare delight when I was a child. Riding to Grandma’s in a smoke filled car was another matter. 

In those days both of our parents smoked and there was little awareness or concern over 'second-hand smoke' or even the discomfort it caused to non smokers. 

Today a trip from the Quad Cities where we lived to Waterloo, Iowa would take about 2 1/2 hours on four lane highway. When I was a boy, it would usually be a five to six hour trip on two lane roads.

My brother and I as restless boys would inevitably argue as to where the placement of the invisible line down the center of the bench seat should be drawn. It was a like a demilitarized zone across which we taunted each other, like two Koreas.

Any encroachment, real or imagined would result in a little shoving match with tempers flaring, voices raised and usually ending with my father’s big hand slicing the air like a guided missle aimed at my thigh or backside.

At those times of 'focused attention', it became very clear why my older brother insisted on taking the seat behind our dad.
It was much easier to avoid a devastating blow in that position.

Our dad's 'intercessory enforcement' of a truce would usually lead to my mom scolding my dad to watch where he was driving. This aggravated an already irritated man, adding fuel to the fire in his eyes. A sideways glance up into the rear view mirror from the back seat was like judgment day - seeing two fiery eyes scowling at us from the heavens.

In summer, the trip was barely tolerable because we could put the windows down. That was in the days before air conditioning when a cars front doors had a ‘fly window’ that were ostensibly to be opened enough to shoo annoying hitchhikers of the flying insect variety out of the car. 

These windows were more commonly used to let air in and could be directed to blow the hot summer air somewhere in our vicinity. However, It generally just blew noxious cigarette smoke into the back seat.  

To complete the gas chamber effect, we would inevitably get stuck behind a slow moving or stopped line of cars with at least two or three diesel trucks and farm equipment. 

In the winter it was miserable since we would roll our windows down ‘just a crack’ in order to get fresh air. In truth, the only fresh air we got was when we stopped to get fuel and got out of the car to use the bathroom - none of which provided fresh air. There was even the occasional outhouse.

Of course, my dad was delighted that we weren't riding in a horse and buggy down mud caked and dusty roads like when he was a boy on the farm. Today I am delighted to have AC, 4 lane highways and multiple rest stops with relatively clean restrooms.

So, not only was it a delight to get to the end of the trip and see Grandma and Grandpa waiting to meet us, but it was a delight to be
able to run and breath relatively fresh air, hoping that the headache and nausea would soon pass.

Our cousins would usually already be there. In the summer they would be there to greet us with roller skates strapped to their shoes. In the winter, my older cousin Paula would always try and interest me in learning to knit. At that age I was delighted in her attention regardless of the task.

We would often explore Grandmas attic and Grandpas garage delighted with whatever unusual treasures we found there. There was always a story associated with whatever we found. 

One time we were fixated on grandmas blue polka dot dress in the attic. My cousin Paula was elected to ask Grandma about the dress. We learned that it was worn on the occasion of their two daughters (our mothers) graduation from nursing school.

Each object that we found, each story that we heard helped us to learn more about our grandparents and our parents. It drew us
closer as a family in what we shared in common.

There was a great deal of joy in getting together with the family and playing with the cousins. The anticipation of our visit itself gave us joy for the journey and it made the ‘getting there’ much more bearable.

That is what we have before us at the end of Luke’s gospel. The anticipation of what the believer already has in Christ gives us joy for the journey. We enjoy fellowship together now as we learn what have in common with each other. 

Even before we actually arrive where our Father lives, we can explore the many mansions described for us in the Bible where we learn the hidden treasures about our Savior, Jesus.  

I must confess that I enjoyed going to Bible conferences much more in years past than I do now. At conferences in the past, I learned about Jesus and met believers forming bonds with them in what we enjoyed about Christ.

However, as we age is seems that our attention at conferences is less focused on Christ and more focused on the perils of the journey. While this does provide an opportunity to encourage one another in the Lord, we seem instead to be more fixated on the problems of the way rather than an anticipating where we are going.

To this point the Lord asks,

And he said unto them, What manner of communications [are] these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? Luke 24:17

And again,

[Luk 24:38 ESV] 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?"

When the Lord appeared to the frightened disciples, He startled them with words of Peace. We read that they 'believed not for joy'. They were surprised to be overwhelmed with joy. 

Have you ever had that experience to be so dejected one moment and the next be filled with joy. Didn't it surprise you? 

Everyone who is saved knows exactly what this experience is. One moment we are so burdened by our sin and hopeless condition before God and the next, the burden is gone. We are overwhelmed by joy and the assurance of God's Word granting us forgiveness.

In Luke 24:44-49 we read of how the Lord opened up to them their understanding of the Scriptures. As He did so, the reality of His resurrection began to sink in. They were absolutely convinced that Jesus is Messiah.

This is a vital principle for the child of God. The Lord Jesus is waiting to reveal Himself when we open up the scripture to learn of Him. As we do, we become aware of His presence in our midst.

Dear child of God, when joy is lost and God seems distant; When His promises seem afar off and not connected with our everyday sorrows and burdens; then what is needed in order for us to experience the reality of His presence is to come to the scriptures with an open heart and an eagerness to learn about Christ.

What happens when the Lord's voice is heard? The Lord's presence is known. In fact it was probably His peaceable greeting that drew their attention to His presence in the room. These disciples experienced His physical presence then, since the Spirit of God had not yet been given.

Since the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God is now gone out into the world and believers all over the globe experience God's presence when we gather to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When the Lord Jesus asked them:

"Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" His question was not rhetorical. He was not asking for a list of things that were troubling them. It was patently obvious, they were troubled because they were not expecting Christ to be risen from the dead, much less appear in their midst.
 
The reason that they were filled with doubt is that they had an imperfect understanding of the scriptures.

To the point for us today: If we are lacking peace in our hearts, if our hearts are troubled and full of doubt it is because at some level we have failed to take God at His Word.

Now, this is goal of Bible study. It should not be a dry, rambling exposition of what we think that the scripture says. Nor should
it be merely what we have learned that other brethren think that the scriptures say. The goal of Bible study is to see Jesus and come into His peace through understanding His Word.

We are accountable to know what the scriptures teach because this is what provides joy for the journey. It is in the midst of this joy that the Lord gives purpose to our lives and He commissions us to serve Him. As we learn and understand the scriptures, we take what we have learned about Jesus to tell others.

What does Luke 24:50-53 tell us about committed followers of the Lord Jesus? What characterizes them? Where is their attention focused? 

They followed Him to Bethany (House of Bread). They were found in a place characterized by joy and fellowship.

This is where they received the Lord's blessing;

This is where they gazed into the heavens at His glory and gained a glimpse of their new home; 

This is where they were found to be filled with great joy.

This is where they worshiped together. 

Are our gatherings in the name of the Lord characterized by the Lord's blessing; by focused attention on His Glory; by great joy?

From Jerusalem they continued together in the place where God told them to gather. 

They were focused on God in the temple where others came to meet God.

In short, They were characterized by praise, worship, steadfast focus on God and by great joy.

Recently, I had my driver's license renewed. A picture was taken of a grumpy, unhappy old man. My mind was occupied with the day’s chores and challenges, I did not appear joyful in the slightest degree. 

In contrast, in the summer of last year, a picture was taken of me with my wife Lisa and our grandchildren at the beach. There our expressions were relaxed, cheerful and focused on the joy of God's blessings to us.

I know that I would rather be characterized by that face of joy, one occupied with the blessings of God rather than a grumpy old man occupied with the burdens of the day. 

Wouldn’t you?

smc