Salem Baptist Church, Salem, NM

But there is a different way of looking at the relationship of joy and faith. In Hebrews 11:6the writer says, "Without faith it is impossible to please him, forwhoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that herewards those who seek him." In other words, the faith that pleases Godis a confidence that God will reward us when we come to Him. But surely this does not mean that we are to be motivated by material things. Surely the reward we long for is the glory of God Himself and the perfected companionship of Christ (Hebrews 2:10; 3:6; 10:34; 11:26; 12:22-24; 13:5). We will sell everything to have the treasure of Christ Himself.

Sothe faith that pleases God is the assurance that when we turn to Him,we will find the all-satisfying Treasure. We will find our heartseternal delight. But do you see what this implies? It implies thatsomething has happened in our hearts before the act of faith.It implies that beneath and behind the act of faith that pleases God, anew taste has been created—a taste for the glory of God and the beautyof Christ. Behold, a joy has been born!

Once we had no delightin God, and Christ was just a vague historical figure. What we enjoyedwas food and friendships and productivity and investments and vacationsand hobbies and games and reading and shopping and sex and sports andart and TV and travel...but not God. He was an idea—even a good one—anda topic for discussion; but He was not a treasure of delight.

Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.