A Happy Life
(Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)

In time which flies by like an arrow, our lives become different each day. As time goes by, the tent of our flesh becomes withered and the shadow of death thickens and draws nearer. Then we must live the remainder of our lives with no regrets, and I would like to ask ourselves this question today. “As I live my life today, am I living a truly happy life?”

1. Life free from guilt and a sense of condemnation
God created a beautiful garden named Eden, placed Adam and Eve there, and made it so they could live happy, joy-filled lives. However, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s orders and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, resulting in their banishment from Eden, their slavery to sin and the devil, and their lives becoming filled with guilt and despair. (Genesis 3:8~10)
1) When we believe in Jesus, our sins are atoned for and our hearts become filled with joy. (Psalm 32:1)
2) Sin and faults are sicknesses of the soul. However, Jesus took our sins and faults and died on the cross, so that we could live a life free from guilt and a sense of condemnation to live a happy life. (Isaiah 53:5)

2. Life overcoming emptiness and meaninglessness
1) When we look at the newspaper we see the emptiness and meaninglessness of life. (Ecclesiastes 1:1~11)
2) The happiness that people seek in this world is eventually meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 2:1~11)
3) The value of our lives is determined by Jesus. (1 Peter 2:9)

3. Life overcoming death and despair
1) Saul had a negative and defeatist self-portrait. (1 Samuel 17:10~11)
2) David had a self-portrait where God was with Him. (1 Samuel 17:37)
3) We must have a healthy self-portrait to overcome the despair of death and nothingness.(Romans 8:35~39)

We all desire to live a happy and joyful life. In order to do that we must eliminate the weapons of the enemy which are used to destroy our joy and happiness, which are guilt and a sense of condemnation, emptiness and meaninglessness, and the despair of death. When we do an operation on our diseased selves and go forth with prayer, God will pour out the grace of the cross of Calvary, so that we may enjoy good health and that all may go well with us, even as our soul is getting along well, and live happy lives.