Counterfeit Happiness

“Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught...stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ.” (1 John 2:27-28 MSG)

I was at an outdoor concert when I noticed a young lady with a group of her friends. She was laughing and dancing. Someone nearby remarked: “She seems to know how to have a good time!”  Later in the evening, I noticed her walking by herself into the parking lot. Her gait was unsteady. Drunk and alone, she was headed for trouble. I kept looking back at her until she was swallowed up by the darkness. I said a silent prayer for her safety.

A majority of individuals--regardless of socioeconomic class, religious identity, political affiliation, education, nationality, culture, race, or age--seem to confuse temporary highs with enjoyment of life. Their drug of choice might differ based on their environment and peers, but the patterns of addiction are similar. Intoxication is achieved through materialism, success, status, adulation, entertainment, thrills, vacations, food, sex, alcohol, or drugs. Numbness is preferred over awareness.

For those few who choose enlightenment over amusement, life can be costly as well as lonely. Investing in truth can be expensive. Counterfeit happiness is popular, and those who turn their backs on it are seen as odd. Sober-minded living goes against the herd and, thus, can be isolating. Most of us crave social acceptance, even if it is by those with superficial standards. This world is contaminated by lies. There is only one antidote:  to be anointed in truth.

We can either continue living shallow lives on the surface of this earth, or we can choose to live deeply in Christ. The latter requires us to turn our backs on worldly ideas of pleasure and popularity. We leave the darkness behind and step into God’s brightly lit dwelling. We move past the threshold and take a seat near the warm hearth. We are home, where we belong. Immersed in intimacy, we delight in knowing that we are accepted and cherished--not by the world, but by Christ.