We reflect on Calvary. We reflect on salvation. We reflect on being given light and understanding by the Lord, having our minds emancipated and opened. We rejoice in the new nature. We rejoice in so many provisions, spiritual and temporal. And we reflect on things, and do not forget; we have a form of rejoicing even when we have cause to be sorrowful. It is our due to God, it is our debt to him. He has given us these blessings; we should ever be thankful for them. It is essential for perspective. If we do not rejoice, then everything in times of difficulty, everything seems grey and gloomy and impossible and unreasonable and unfair and unpleasant, and we are overwhelmed with it all. But if there is spiritual rejoicing, we have perspective, and we see things in proportion, and we deal with them much better. It is essential for praise; it obviously strengthens you; and it communicates to the lost.
There was a doctor here worshipping with us who we know from years gone by, an American brother. He told me how, when he was a medical student, he had to do his turn in the psychiatric ward and he did. He had not long been saved and he was very cheerful in disposition. And there was a poor lady there among the many patients, and she was so utterly depressed, and she had been on much medication and in hospitals for much of her life. And finally she confronted this young student doctor and she said, ‘Why are you so happy?’ She said, ‘I am sick of the sight of you, always when you come on the ward, you are so happy.’ And so without thinking he broke the rules and said, ‘Well, it is because I trust in Jesus Christ. I used to be miserable but he has made me happy because he has saved his soul.’ And so he had an outburst from the lady. But the next day, she said to him, tell me more, and he did. And the next day, she wanted to know more still. And finally, he told me, the lady was saved, and after she was saved – be careful because I am not suggesting this will always happen; people who are suffering with mental health have very serious problems – in her case, it completely set her free from her sorrows, and she got much better. What caused this poor lady who was so, so depressed to enquire from the lad why he was so happy? Well it was his demeanour. ‘Rejoice evermore.’