True Christianity is the only religion in the world, that is meant to be enjoyed.  ALL other forms of religion–without exception–are meant to assuage guilty consciences, puff-up proud works-righteousness, and prop-up false hopes of salvation.  The true gospel faith does none of this.

Here are some of the things that every true Christian is promised, in this life: persecution (2 Tim. 3:12); trials (Jas. 1:2-3); tribulation (Jn. 16:33); the necessity of bearing one’s own cross daily (Lk. 9:23); the hatred of the world (Jn. 15:19); harassment from Satan (1 Pet. 5:8); and the nuisance of false believers (1 Jn. 2:19). . . .

So, someone is (probably) rightly asking, “If all this is true, then how can you speak of ‘delighting in Christ’?”  This is a perfectly good question; and it deserves a solid answer.  True regenerate Christian churchmen may (and do) “delight in Christ” partly, because this delight has nothing (negativity) to do with all those troublesome dynamics we just mentioned (in the first paragraph).  “Delighting in Christ” may be done in a prison, a gulag, a concentration camp.  Wherever the Spirit of God dwells in a heart, the shining and warming lamp of true liberty abides; and this glory cannot be overwhelmed by any force devised by men or demons.

On the other hand, “delighting in Christ” is also done by the saints as we enjoy all the good blessings of the temporal life–so long as they (these blessings) are conceived of in and through Jesus alone.  In other words, we do not need to be overtly “suffering” in order to enjoy our wonderful Triune God (in Jesus Christ).

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