Does God want us to be happy? What does the Bible say about happiness?

“Happiness” may seem like a passing thing, and hardly the ultimate goal in most belief systems. In fact, though, it is the Lord’s greatest goal for us: He wants us to be happy. If we allow it, He will lead and guide us to be as happy as we are able to be.

The whole reason the Lord created us was so that he could love us, and what else but happiness do you wish for someone you love? But the happiness the Lord wants for us is not the passing joy of satisfying our bodily desires but the exquisite eternal joy of conjunction with the Lord and true love of the neighbor, things that are harder to see and harder to attain but ultimately far more delightful.

Swedenborg distinguishes heaven’s happiness from worldly happiness of satisfying our bodily desires. In heaven, all happiness is felt from loving the Lord and being of use, living for the sake of others. Everything the Lord does is part of his attempt to lead us to that state, and in everything that happens to us - even the things that are the most tragic on the natural level - he provides opportunities for us to move toward that state.

In Arcana Coelestia 6392, there's this: "...performing good deeds without thought of recompense is that in which heavenly happiness consists." A couple of sentences later, there's another key statement -- i.e. that this real love of the neighbor has to be rooted in a "new will" in us, a will that can only be implanted by the Lord when we make room for it, and seek it.

In the American Declaration of Independence, the "pursuit of happiness" is one of the 3 enumerated inalienable rights that our Creator endows us with. Certainly, the Lord wants our happiness, and wants us to pursue it. In a way, though, if we pursue it directly, externally, we will probably not get it. If we pursue happiness for others, we will be making our minds open and ready for that new will. (See Arcana Coelestia 454 for more about this.)

The Lord also leaves us in freedom. We can reject his efforts and turn away if we choose to, and while that choice may seem to us to lead toward happiness, it's a passing, low-level happiness that is ultimately only a shadow of the joy he desires for us. However, people in hell are "happy" being there - at least as happy as they CAN be - because the life there matches the self-centered love they cultivated while on earth. If people in hell could be lifted up to heaven, they would feel tormented.

From Psalm 65:9-13:

Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it; thou makest it very plenteous.

The river of God is full of water: thou preparest their corn, for so thou providest for the earth.

Thou waterest her furrows; thou sendest rain into the little valleys thereof; thou makest it soft with the drops of rain, and blessest the increase of it.

Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy clouds drop fatness.

They shall drop upon the dwellings of the wilderness; and the little hills shall rejoice on every side.

The folds shall be full of sheep; the valleys also shall stand so thick with corn, that they shall laugh and sing.

From John 15:11:

I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

(Referências: Arcana Coelestia 1153 [2]; Divine Providence 37)

Life After Death

Eternity:

Do you know anyone who has died? Have you ever wondered what happened to him or her afterwards? Do you ever think about what that person is doing right now? Do you wonder what will happen to you when you die?

Everyone is curious about the future, so it makes sense to wonder about life after death. Luckily, God shows people all through the Bible that there is eternal life.

But concerning the resurrection of the dead - have you not read what was spoken to you by God, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? God is not the God of the dead but of the living. (Matthew 22:31-32)

Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. (Luke 23:43)

God even lived in this world - as Jesus Christ - and died on a cross and rose from the dead to prove that He was still alive. In fact, He actually came back to earth and appeared to His followers after He died. This way, they would believe what He said earlier:

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (John 11:25)

My kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:3)

Angels:

Many stories in the Bible have angels in them. The word "angel" really means "messenger," so God used angels in heaven to bring messages to people on earth. Angels were used when God had something very important to tell someone - often they comforted people and told them not to be afraid.

Then the angel said to the shepherds, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." (Luke 2:10)

But the angel said to them, "Do not be alarmed You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified He has risen! He is not here." (Mark 16:6)

All people are born to become angels when they die, because God loves everyone and wants to live forever with them in heaven. Emanuel Swedenborg's Writings tell us a lot about what heaven is like, and also what hell is like, and what it's like to wake up after we die. The world we go to after death is called the "spiritual world."

What Is the Spiritual World Like?

Imagine someone who has died waking up in the spiritual world. He or she wakes up feeling safe, healthy, and happy and is greeted by angels. At first the person seems to still be in this world, but soon realizes that it's the spiritual world. Life it becomes clear that the spiritual world is appears to be a lot like it was on earth, but slowly different yet very real.

During their stay in the world of spirits, people continue the preparation that was begun on earth for either heaven or hell. This choice is up to each individual - it is not decided by God. While God invites everyone into heaven, and deeply hopes we will choose to be with Him, He allows us to make our own decision in freedom. Jesus said:

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

Choosing Heaven

If we love God and want to live a life of goodness to the neighbor, we will choose heaven. People in heaven have jobs, enjoy celebrating together, worship with one another and do good things for each other. The angels are happier than we can even imagine!

Heavenly joy is so great as to be beyond description. (Heaven and Hell 409)

All in heaven take joy in sharing their delights and blessings with others. (Heaven and Hell 399)

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love.... These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:10-11)

God does not send people to hell, and hell is not a punishment for having done bad things. You might ask why anyone would choose to go there instead of heaven. People who do not love God and the neighbor would rather live in a place where there is selfishness, greed and jealousy. And these evils are their own form of punishment.

We can actually experience heaven and hell here on earth. Whenever we get a good feeling from helping someone else, or enjoy something beautiful in nature, we get a taste of what heaven is like. And, whenever we feel jealous of others or want bad things to happen to them, we know what hell is like.

So you see, when people die, they wake up in the spiritual world feeling safe and happy, and go on living forever. Death is only the beginning of a new life.

Isn't it wonderful that God wants us to be with Him forever!

The Lord has established His throne in heaven,

And His kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

Where can 1 go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:1,7-10)