“Thanks, Captain Obvious!” So goes the commercial for a popular hotel booking app. This particular commercial had an individual responding to what was obvious to the individual.
All of us probably have our own Captain Obvious, obnoxiously pointing out what we already know to be true.
There are, however, occasions when we Christians need to point out the “obvious” to our friends, neighbors, family, and coworkers. And what might that “obvious” thing be? The fact that the culture around us seems incapable of finding lasting happiness.
Pastor and author Alistair Begg provides this reflective statement: “We might expect that by now men and women would have mastered the art of happiness. By now the subject ought to be obsolete, because everybody ought to know what happiness is and how to achieve it.” (“Where to Find Happiness,” Truth for Life)
Essentially, he is stating that the source of happiness should be “obvious” by now, given thousands of years of philosophy and life experiences. But anyone watching the news or reading a newspaper (who does that anymore?) will realize that happiness is proving elusive to our current culture.
David knew the source of true happiness. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1, ESV) The Greek and Hebrew words translated “blessed” in both the Old and New Testaments convey the thought, Oh how happy is the one who… And we’re told exactly what brings happiness: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
The Old Testament tells us the blessed or happy individual is the one whose sins are forgiven and who delights in the law of the Lord. If you’re not big on the Old Testament, you should be — but let me point you to Jesus’s words in the New Testament during the Sermon on the Mount:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-10)
As you read these verses, you need to be thinking Oh how happy when you see the word “blessed.”
So, let me play “Captain Obvious” for you. God has made it perfectly clear in His Word that “blessed” (Oh how happy) is the one whose sins are forgiven. That forgiveness comes through saving faith in Jesus Christ. But it doesn’t stop there. Knowing is only the beginning. On the night before He died, Jesus summarized all of His previous teachings in one verse: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17)
Do what? Be poor in spirit, mourn, be meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, be merciful, and be pure in heart. The good news is that God’s Holy Spirit within us makes all of that a living reality! “Oh, How Happy He Has Made Me!” Pretty “obvious”!
What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!
