Years ago coal miners would take canaries into the coal mine. Dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and methane can build up to dangerous levels. A canary’s metabolism is sensitive to air quality. As long as the bird is singing the miners know the air is safe. If gas levels rise to a dangerous level, the canaries stop singing and eventually fall to the floor of the cage. The evidence of joy in your life is similar to the health of a canary in the coal mine. If there is a lack of joy in your life you may fall prey to the attacks of the enemy. It’s difficult for you to be tempted with the empty pleasures of this world. when you’re filled with God’s joy.

When people do not have joy in their lives they chase after empty pursuits. King David of the Old Testament realized this truth in Psalm 51. Psalm 51 is David’s confession of his adulterous sin with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband to ostensibly conceal his sin. Although David’s adultery with Bathsheba was the catalyst for his sin, nowhere does this Psalm mention sex. David’s sexual sin was a symptom, not the cause of his sin. Accountability partners and safeguards are helpful to keep us from sin but if we don’t deal with the heart of the issue then all of those other precautions will be for naught. We give way to sin in our lives because we don’t realize the joy of salvation. David testifies,

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)

The Hebrew word “restore” חָדַשׁ châdash may be translated to rebuild or repair. The word “joy” שָׂשׂוֹן sâsôwn, conveys the idea of cheerfulness, gladness,  and rejoicing. Do you know the joy of salvation in your heart? Ephesians chapter 1 identifies a number of benefits of God’s salvation in our lives,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)

When your heart is filled with the joy of salvation then you’re not temped by empty pursuits. Sin on the outside is symptomatic of a lack of joy on the inside. Are you experiencing the joy of salvation?

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Chu,rch at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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