What Makes a Good Life?
In 1938, researchers at Harvard Medical School began a remarkable study. They followed 268 people through their entire adult lives, asking them year after year about their lifestyles, habits, relationships, work, and happiness. Recently, psychiatry professor Robert Waldinger shared the results in his TED Talk, “What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness.” Here are some of the lessons:
1. Don’t smoke.
2. Don’t abuse alcohol.
3. Maintain healthy habits.
4. Stay physically active.
5. Face problems honestly.
6. Keep learning.
7. And most importantly: build strong, lasting relationships.
That is all good advice. But if the Apostle John were giving
a TED Talk today, he would go even deeper. He would say, “True joy comes from
fellowship with God.” In his first letter, John gives us three simple words:
Turn, Abide, Love. TAL. That is the pathway to a joyful life.
Turn
First, turn. John says, “If we confess our sins, he
who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” (1:9) The beginning of joy is to stop pretending. Come into
the light. Turn toward God. The word repent literally means “turn around.”
Martin Luther once said that whole Christian life is repentance – turning back
to God again and again.
As I learned guitar, one thing I learned quickly is this:
Before you play, you must tune. Turning to God is like tuning your life to
God. Every morning, as we step into the water or wash our face, we can pray
this very simple prayer: “Good morning, God. I turn to you. Wash me and cleanse
me.” That is where joy begins.
Abide
Second, abide. John says, “Little children, abide
in him…” (2:28) When John wrote this, he probably remembered the words of
Jesus: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in
them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
This morning I brought two things: a “pussy willow” branch and
a “weeping willow” plant. Both are beautiful. But only one is alive. The weeping
willow is still connected to water and soil. The pussy willow branch is cut off.
Today they may both look fine. But think about ten years from now. Thirty years
from now. One will dry up. The other will grow, flourish, and give shade to
others. That is the difference connection makes. Abiding in Christ means
staying connected to him – receiving life from him, his love, his word, his
presence. The secret of Christian joy is not striving, but remaining. Happiness
grows where Christ is not a weekend visitor but a daily companion.
Love
Third, love. John says, “We know love by this, that he
laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.”
(3:16) True happiness is not found in consumption. It is found in self-giving
love. John continues, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a
brother or sister in need but shows no compassion - how can God's love be in
that person? Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let
us show the truth by our actions.” (3:17-18, NLT)
God’s love does. It sacrifices. It gives. It serves.
And because we are loved by Christ, we are called to love our neighbor. Then,
who is our neighbor? “Everyone.” Especially those who are different. Those
who are difficult. Even those who oppose us. In this polarized world, we
Christians are called to love across divisions. If you are conservative, listen
with compassion to progressive neighbors. If you are progressive, seek to understand
conservative neighbors. Why? Because every person is someone deeply loved by
God, made in the image of God.
The Holy Spirit
Turn. Abide. Love. TAL. But here is the truth: we cannot do
this by sheer effort alone. We need the Holy Spirit, who makes the life of God real
and alive in us. That is why John said this: “And by this we know that he
abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” (3:24)
John Wesley understood this well. Wesley was disciplined,
moral, and hardworking. He fasted, preached, and even came to America as a
missionary. But inwardly, he lacked assurance and peace. He didn’t pretend. He
admitted it honestly. Then comes May 24, 1738, on Aldersgate Street. During a
worship service, Wesley felt his heart strangely warmed by the grace of Christ
through the Holy Spirit. After that, everything changed. He preached with joy
and power. He loved people others ignored: miners, prisoners, the poor, children.
It is said that Wesley rode about 250,000 miles on horseback during his
ministry. He preached more than 40,000 sermons, often several times a day, into
his last 80s. His life motto was: “The world is my parish.” Why? Because the
Holy Spirit filled his life with living joy.
The same Spirit is still at work today. The Holy Spirit helps
us to turn from sin, abide in Christ, and love like Jesus. Pentecost is not
only a historical event to remember. It is an invitation to receive. Have
you received the Holy Spirit? Many people today are searching for
happiness. John tells us: the joyful life is the Spirit-filled life. So
today, with open hearts and open hands, let us welcome the Holy Spirit and say,
“Come, Holy Spirit.” May the Holy Spirit turn us into the light, keep us close
to Christ, and fill us with love. Amen.
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