Topical Encyclopedia
In the Christian understanding, natural life is a gift from God, and the saints—those who are set apart for God's purposes—are uniquely positioned to experience true enjoyment of this life. This enjoyment is not merely a fleeting or superficial pleasure but a deep, abiding joy rooted in their relationship with God and their understanding of His creation.
Joy in CreationThe saints recognize the beauty and majesty of God's creation as a reflection of His glory. In
Psalm 19:1 , it is written, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." This acknowledgment of God's handiwork leads to a profound appreciation and enjoyment of the natural world. The saints find joy in the simple pleasures of life, such as the beauty of a sunrise, the complexity of a flower, or the vastness of the night sky, seeing in them the fingerprints of their Creator.
Contentment and GratitudeTrue enjoyment of natural life for the saints is also characterized by contentment and gratitude. In
Philippians 4:11-12 , the Apostle Paul writes, "I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need." This contentment stems from a trust in God's provision and a gratitude for His blessings, whether in abundance or in scarcity.
Purpose and FulfillmentThe saints find true enjoyment in natural life through the fulfillment of their God-given purpose.
Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." Engaging in these good works brings a sense of fulfillment and joy, as the saints participate in God's redemptive plan for the world. Their lives are marked by a sense of purpose that transcends the temporal and connects them to the eternal.
Peace and AssuranceThe peace that comes from a relationship with God is another source of true enjoyment for the saints. In
John 14:27 , Jesus assures His followers, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid." This divine peace allows the saints to navigate the challenges of natural life with assurance and confidence, knowing that they are held in the hands of a loving and sovereign God.
Community and FellowshipFinally, the saints experience true enjoyment of natural life through community and fellowship with other believers.
Acts 2:46-47 describes the early church: "With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." This sense of community provides support, encouragement, and joy, as the saints share their lives and faith with one another.
In summary, the saints' true enjoyment of natural life is deeply intertwined with their faith, characterized by joy in creation, contentment, purpose, peace, and community. Through these elements, they experience a richness of life that reflects their unique relationship with God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Psalm 128:2For you shall eat the labor of your hands: happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
Degrees of Enjoyment through the Glorified Senses.
... according to the holiness of his life, and not ... But although it is perfectly true
that natural talents, as ... the praises of God and of his saints; musicians, who ...
/.../boudreaux/the happiness of heaven/chapter xv degrees of enjoyment.htm
What is the Christian Home?
... baptism, and of the communion of saints, leading to ... a partnership of spiritual as
well as of natural life. ... together of the grace of life." "Heavenly mindedness ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter i what is the.htm
Whether the Body is Necessary for Man's Happiness?
... happiness which can be had in this life, depends, in ... it, though it does not retain
that natural perfection in ... whereas the separated souls of the saints have not ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the body is necessary.htm
All Saints' Day
... Adoration is their very bliss and life. ... whether of angels or of men, or of mere natural
things"is ... has had his share in the everlasting All Saints' Day which ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon i all saints day.htm
Introduction.
... not complete; the way of the Saints is not ... demands thought, perseverance, supernatural
strength, natural strenuousness; it ... effort of its own: "Love is a Life.". ...
/.../rolle/the form of perfect living and other prose treatises/introduction.htm
The Illusiveness of Life.
... is the way of faith: the ancient saints felt as ... which the feelings are suggested
which the natural objects themselves ... Let us take an instance drawn from life. ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/vi the illusiveness of life.htm
Saints, Sages, and Saviors: the Law of Service
... by building up the Temple of a stainless life is Truth ... whom goodness and purity have
become as natural as scent ... The saints, sages, and saviors of all time are ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/allen/the way of peace/saints sages and saviors the.htm
On the Difficulties and Duties of the Christian Life.
... got our corruptions restrained, and our natural appetites and ... goodness wherewith
the best of saints have ever been ... and enjoyments of this lower life, let us ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part iii on the difficulties.htm
The Spirituality of the Risen Body.
... How many saints have grieved over this necessity of our ... to persons who are endeavoring
to lead a holy life. ... They are evidently the natural properties of spirits ...
/.../boudreaux/the happiness of heaven/chapter vi the spirituality of.htm
The Good Man Useful in Life and Happy in Death.
... to his family, and to the society of friends, dear as life, and with ... Other saints
do the same. ... It is natural for a servant, when he sees a reckoning day at hand ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxv the good man.htm
Resources
What is the water of life? | GotQuestions.orgQuestions about the Christian Life (All) | GotQuestions.orgIs there life after death? | GotQuestions.orgLife: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
