THE WAY TO ELATION

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

Proverbs 28:12

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

I think I can say with great confidence that we all are seeking joy in life. There’s no better place to be than where we have such a sense of happiness and contentment and bliss that nothing could steal away the delight we are feeling.

Such elation comes in many ways. I know I have had many instances joyful instances like when I got married and when my children (and later my grandchildren) were born. I also had great moments of glee and gladness when I learned that I had earned promotion through my many years of military service, six specific times to be exact. And of course I need to mention my love of sports and particularly Pittsburgh sports which reached incredible crescendos of delight when championships were won in football, baseball, or hockey.

Yes, I could go on and on with moments of jubilation and excitement through my life but we need to take a look at what the Lord has to say about the way to elation for as we will see, it has nothing to do with worldly events like the ones I mentioned, like the ones you probably hold as dear to you.

Let’s look at these words of God as imparted on the wise king Solomon:

When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. Proverbs 28:12

Note here the line of demarcation when it comes to the matter of elation. For that line is drawn at the place of righteousness. Cross the line into that territory, the territory where people are led and guided by the word and Spirit of the Lord and you will find elation because in that domain, everyone thinks right, speaks right, and acts right. It is a place where righteousness reigns supreme because everyone within that place is committed to do right.

Conversely, let wickedness enter into the domain of righteousness bringing its sin and darkness and wickedness and the party is over. No longer is elation reigning supreme but rather sorrow and fear and despair. Those who basked in the glow of right living want nothing to do with the evil that has risen up and so they go into hiding, praying that they might be restored again into a place where elation might again dominate.

Maybe that’s where we are in our world today. For it seems more and more that righteousness and righteous leadership is being pushed aside with the wicked more and more rising into power, bringing along sinful goals and policies that run counter to the word and will of God. The righteous, in the midst of the ever growing wickedness, become minimized and persecuted for speaking out against the immoral ways and plans of the wicked, sometimes to the place of hiding for fear of their very lives. Indeed, many Christians today must do just that, unable to freely worship the Lord they serve.

Want a biblical example of this proverb?

Go back to the life of our Savior.

You’ll recall this moment of absolute exaltation and elation as He entered Jerusalem for the Passover:

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11

Cries of “Hosanna” were ringing out as the crowd gave Jesus all their praise and a welcome typically given to royalty as they entered the holy city of Jerusalem. It was a joyous time, one where the focus was on righteousness and the perfectly righteous Savior of the World who was arriving to fulfill the prophecies of old and the will of God the Father, the Savior who knew that this elation was not to last through the week He would be in the holy city. For wickedness loomed in wait for this righteous Son of God.

Fast forward now to a beaten, bruised, and battered Jesus, standing before a much different crowd, one under the spell of wicked leadership. This crowd did not cry out “Hosanna!” but rather “Crucify!” and they got their wish, murdering the innocent, Lamb of God who willingly gave Himself up as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of all mankind, including the sins of those who lied and conspired to kill Him. A dark pall was cast over Jerusalem that day and nary a disciple of Jesus could be found at the cross barring John.

Where were they?

They had gone into hiding in the midst of the wickedness that had risen into power and taken over Jerusalem.

All seemed rather hopeless at that point. Had wickedness triumphed over righteousness?

Thanks be to God that the final chapter had not yet been written. For on the third day, Jesus was resurrected in power and authority, soon to ascend, sit at the right hand of God His Father, and reign supreme over all mankind in Spirit and truth and, yes, in righteousness. Wickedness had been defeated forever. Death had lost its sting. Hope sprang out eternal. The way to elation was laid and permanently paved forever as Jesus set down the narrow path through the narrow gate for those who place their hope and trust in Him to travel with the end destination being life and light and love, not just for today but for all eternity.

Friends, no matter how difficult life might get for us here on earth, no matter how wicked things will get (and if you read the word of God, you know things are going to get extremely bad and wicked and evil here), we can hold onto the hope that Jesus is coming back and will not be coming as a loving Savior but rather as the Righteous Judge who will take those who placed their faith, hope, and trust in Him to live with Him and the Father forever while casting the wicked into the lake of fire. It will be the day where righteousness will triumph once and for all and elation will be the only thing remaining for those who have remained true to their Savior Jesus.

In the end translation, the true way to elation isn’t through the matters of this world.  It’s only through Jesus Christ.

Have you accepted Him as your Savior today?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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