“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, ESV)

There are some who think that being a Christian is a miserable existence. Obviously, they don’t know the goodness of God. David experienced everything a man could desire. He was a successful warrior, a popular leader, the king of all Israel, and he had tremendous wealth. But the thing he most delighted in was the LORD. How can that be?

Because David was a man after God’s own heart, he knew the LORD. To know Him is to love Him. David also found God to be faithful to show him the way he should go. When he was fleeing from Saul and was having to hide in caves, he often inquired of the LORD. God showed David what to do and where to go, thus sparing his life. We also can seek guidance from the LORD to know the path that we should walk. He will steer us clear from the snares of the enemy. He will show us the way that leads to eternal life.

David also found that the more he worshiped God and drew close to him, the more joy he experienced. Have you experienced an overwhelming sense of indescribable joy in a Spirit-filled worship service? I have on many occasions. The greatest joy there is comes as a byproduct of a right relationship with God.

Finally, David knew that at the right hand of God are pleasures forevermore. Who is seated at the right hand of God? The Lord Jesus Christ. But guess what? We are seated there with Him!

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4–7, NKJV)

Throughout eternity, God will be showing us the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Now that is what I call “pleasures forevermore”!

Far from a miserable existence, Christians have been given so much. We have life, fullness of joy and everlasting pleasures. What in the world compares with this?