“Runner’s High” is a feeling of euphoria experienced by avid runners during intense running. Marathon runners experience this after passing the 35-kilometer mark, when they have endured extreme pain. It feels like “flying in the sky, walking in a flower field.” Ironically, this sense of happiness is caused by physical stress, which triggers hormones that suppress pain.
Does this kind of euphoria exist in faith as well? Yes, the Bible speaks of a joy that humans can experience.
Pastor John Piper advocates Christian Hedonism. He states, “The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. And God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
The hedonism the world speaks of is different from Christian hedonism. Worldly hedonism is where pleasure itself becomes the goal, and pleasure becomes a god. In this sense, the world seeks happiness through counterfeit pleasures like drugs, alcohol, sex, and luxury. In contrast, Christian hedonism is rooted in the eternal relationship of the Triune God and is evident from the creation of heaven and earth. God is most pleased when His will is revealed through His creation. Christian joy is not found in worldly imitations but in the blessings that come from union with the Creator.
Worldly hedonism seeks to escape dark realities through pleasure. However, Christian hedonism does not seek escape but instead overcomes reality. How is this possible? By being united with God, no matter the circumstance. It means seeking God’s will in every moment, walking with Him, and being immersed in His love.
Hedonism desires immediate happiness. In our brains, there are two dopamine pathways: one for “immediate gratification” and the other for “delayed gratification.” The latter is like exercise—while it causes strain, the feeling of refreshment after a shower is rewarding. Healthy hobbies are not just about passing time but relieving stress in a healthy way. Immediate gratification, however, comes from things like games, alcohol, and shopping. When we shop, our brain releases more dopamine when we make a purchase than when we open the package at home. If we keep pursuing these instant pleasures, our brain gets fooled. It starts to treat the heightened dopamine levels as the new normal, making us feel worse when we return to the original baseline, leading to depression.
On the other hand, Christian hedonism looks beyond this world and finds joy in living each day according to the purpose of our Creator.
“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV)
Marathon runners do not run to experience “Runner’s High.” They run because there is a finish line, they know the right path, and they train consistently. Likewise, look at Jesus.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV)
The Bible’s testimony about Jesus’ life shows us that He did not pursue immediate gratification or worldly counterfeit pleasures. Jesus had a clear purpose for coming to this earth—to provide atonement for humanity—and He walked the path of the cross, living each day according to God’s holy will.
In John 17, we see Jesus praying to God. This prayer was made before He was betrayed and arrested. In it, we find a summary of Jesus’ life:
“For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him.” (John 17:2, NIV)
“I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.” (John 17:4-5, NIV)
“But now I am coming to You, and I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them.” (John 17:13, NIV)
“I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” (John 17:14-16, NIV)
Jesus prayed that the joy within Him would come upon His disciples. This joy is not found in escaping the way of the cross but in the strength to complete the mission entrusted to us—a divine joy that fills our souls. We need this kind of joy. Those who experience it can make the following confession:
“Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10, NIV)
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17, NIV)
The reason we are the church is not for eating and drinking, but for something more fundamental: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes this possible. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not about an emotional state or simply being free from sin—we are still forgiven sinners. Being filled with the Spirit means living a life that finds satisfaction in God in every circumstance. God is most glorified not when we do great things for Him, but when we find our deepest satisfaction in Him.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14, NIV)
We are runners of the cross. For Christians, the goal is not happiness but holiness. When we live according to God’s will, He allows us to experience true joy, not of the world but through His grace. Remember, our destination is eternity. Move forward in faith toward the only path, the eternal path, and do not stop.
Sermon: The Way of the Cross, True Joy
“Runner’s High” is a feeling of euphoria experienced by avid runners during intense running. Marathon runners experience this after passing the 35-kilometer mark, when they have endured extreme pain. It feels like “flying in the sky, walking in a flower field.” Ironically, this sense of happiness is caused by physical stress, which triggers hormones that suppress pain.
Does this kind of euphoria exist in faith as well? Yes, the Bible speaks of a joy that humans can experience.
Pastor John Piper advocates Christian Hedonism. He states, “The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. And God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
The hedonism the world speaks of is different from Christian hedonism. Worldly hedonism is where pleasure itself becomes the goal, and pleasure becomes a god. In this sense, the world seeks happiness through counterfeit pleasures like drugs, alcohol, sex, and luxury. In contrast, Christian hedonism is rooted in the eternal relationship of the Triune God and is evident from the creation of heaven and earth. God is most pleased when His will is revealed through His creation. Christian joy is not found in worldly imitations but in the blessings that come from union with the Creator.
Worldly hedonism seeks to escape dark realities through pleasure. However, Christian hedonism does not seek escape but instead overcomes reality. How is this possible? By being united with God, no matter the circumstance. It means seeking God’s will in every moment, walking with Him, and being immersed in His love.
Hedonism desires immediate happiness. In our brains, there are two dopamine pathways: one for “immediate gratification” and the other for “delayed gratification.” The latter is like exercise—while it causes strain, the feeling of refreshment after a shower is rewarding. Healthy hobbies are not just about passing time but relieving stress in a healthy way. Immediate gratification, however, comes from things like games, alcohol, and shopping. When we shop, our brain releases more dopamine when we make a purchase than when we open the package at home. If we keep pursuing these instant pleasures, our brain gets fooled. It starts to treat the heightened dopamine levels as the new normal, making us feel worse when we return to the original baseline, leading to depression.
On the other hand, Christian hedonism looks beyond this world and finds joy in living each day according to the purpose of our Creator.
“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV)
Marathon runners do not run to experience “Runner’s High.” They run because there is a finish line, they know the right path, and they train consistently. Likewise, look at Jesus.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV)
The Bible’s testimony about Jesus’ life shows us that He did not pursue immediate gratification or worldly counterfeit pleasures. Jesus had a clear purpose for coming to this earth—to provide atonement for humanity—and He walked the path of the cross, living each day according to God’s holy will.
In John 17, we see Jesus praying to God. This prayer was made before He was betrayed and arrested. In it, we find a summary of Jesus’ life:
“For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him.” (John 17:2, NIV)
“I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.” (John 17:4-5, NIV)
“But now I am coming to You, and I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them.” (John 17:13, NIV)
“I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” (John 17:14-16, NIV)
Jesus prayed that the joy within Him would come upon His disciples. This joy is not found in escaping the way of the cross but in the strength to complete the mission entrusted to us—a divine joy that fills our souls. We need this kind of joy. Those who experience it can make the following confession:
“Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10, NIV)
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17, NIV)
The reason we are the church is not for eating and drinking, but for something more fundamental: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes this possible. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not about an emotional state or simply being free from sin—we are still forgiven sinners. Being filled with the Spirit means living a life that finds satisfaction in God in every circumstance. God is most glorified not when we do great things for Him, but when we find our deepest satisfaction in Him.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14, NIV)
We are runners of the cross. For Christians, the goal is not happiness but holiness. When we live according to God’s will, He allows us to experience true joy, not of the world but through His grace. Remember, our destination is eternity. Move forward in faith toward the only path, the eternal path, and do not stop.
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