Can Christians be satisfied on earth?
I truly believe that we can have joy and satisfaction here on Earth.
However in saying this, I imagine that there are gospel-believing Christians who would disagree with that point. Maybe they would say, "Since we live in a broken world, we can't experience true satisfaction in Christ until He returns."
What I want to do in this blog article is show that Christ does allude to, as well as explicitly state, that there is a fullness of joy and satisfaction that believers can experience in this present age, knowing that the fulfillment of complete satisfaction is reserved for the new heavens and the new earth when we're with the Father for eternity.
Satisfaction In Abiding
In John 15:1-11, Jesus tells his disciples that they should “Abide in [Christ].” He wants his disciples to “bear much fruit” for 2 reasons:
So that the Father is glorified
So that Jesus’ joy may be in them, and that their joy may be full.
I would go further to say these are not two separate reasons but two sides of one coin. John Piper said it best when he said “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Having a fullness of joy in Christ brings glory to the Father.
Let’s ask some good questions:
Q.1: When are the disciples supposed to bear fruit?
A.2: The context points to them abiding and bearing fruit while they are alive on earth. In Heaven, there would be no need for this instruction.
Q.2: When is the fullness of joy supposed to be delivered?
A.2: Jesus frames the fullness of joy as the intended result of abiding in Christ (which happens while on earth) and does not allude to this only or specifically being fulfilled once we reach Heaven. The fact that Jesus explicitly tells His disciples that “my [Jesus’] joy may be in you” would also indicate that the joy Jesus had on earth would be given to His followers.
Q.3: What does Jesus mean when he says “your joy may be full”?
A.4: The Greek word here (transliterated as “plēroō”) is commonly used by John and the Gospel writers as “fulfilled,” specifically in the sense that Jesus came to “fulfill” Scripture (John 13:18). In essence, in the same way that Jesus came to be the culmination of what was prophesied, He offers a joy that completely fulfills our desires. As the Jews awaited a Messiah to save them from bondage, Christians recognize that Jesus came to free them unsatisfying sin.
Where Is This Joy?
Now let’s answer the most important question: Where is this joy?
Maybe you have lived your entire life knowing Christ, going to church, loving your neighbor, obeying His Word, staying away from sin, and yet you still don't feel satisfied.
I know this is possible because this perfectly described me.
For years, I silently accused God of lying to me. Maybe He could satisfy others but I didn’t get that “spiritual gift.” Instead, my life would be characterized by years of pain and suffering, met with an undying sense of duty that would lead me to say, “I don’t enjoy my life but I’m doing what’s right.”
Looking back, I was living more of a double life than a consistent, dutiful one.
Let’s admit–duty is a horrible motivator. Humans (of which I’m one) often end up doing whatever is most pleasurable. Instead of God lying to me, I was lying to God about my joyless piety because I would end up chasing whatever cheap substitutional pleasure seemed to have the fewest consequences.
It wasn't until I realized that all of these knockoffs end with regret. I truly am convinced that, in contrast, Christ offers a pleasure that is absolutely unregrettable. No hangovers. No Plan Bs. Nothing.
Later I hope to write about the reality of the fullness of joy in Christ while in difficult seasons, either caused by your sin, the sin of someone else, or just a sinful world. However, my present intention is to help those who consistently feel like joy is out of reach.
Coming to Terms with the Fullness of Joy
So maybe the real question should be one of the following:
Has my relationship with God been a show for others to see?
Does my piety at church mask a hidden sin that I’ve convinced is more pleasurable than abiding in Christ?
Do I underestimate the consequences of sin and overestimate the pleasure it provides?
Romans 8:1 says, “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If you find that there are root issues causing you to deny the trustworthiness of Jesus’ words in John 15:11, I hope that the Spirit moves you to truly find the fullness of Joy He has for you in Christ.
