Q. 2. What prevents your happiness in God?

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• Heidelberg Catechism 10–11

Sin prevents. We cannot be happy in God while clinging to that which is contrary to God’s character and design for creation. “It is not possible, in the nature of things, that a man should be happy who is not holy” (Wesley, Sermon 45, “The New Birth”). “Since happiness is man’s supreme good, it is incompatible with any evil” (Aquinas, Summa Theologica I-II, Q. 2, Art. 4). “Every pleasure which does not arise from God nor is in God is superfluous to pleasure” (John of Damascus, Orthodox Faith 4.23).

Always leads to. Sin is deceptive and its pleasures are fleeting (Hebrews 11:25). Sin can only end in sorrow, shame, brokenness, and regret. “Many are the sorrows of the wicked” (Psalm 32:10). Adam Clarke urged, “Sin not—do not run into ruin; live not so as to promote your own misery; be happy, for it is the will of God that you should be so; therefore he wills that you should be holy: holiness and happiness are inseparable; sin and misery are equally so” (Clarke’s Commentary, 1 John 2:1).

Now. Even in this life, sin deprives us of true blessedness. Sin disorders our affections, disturbs our conscience, robs our peace, and harms our relationships, first with God and also with others. “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:24). Augustine prayed, “Far be it, Lord, … far be it from me to think that enjoyment of any and every kind could make me happy. A joy there is that is not granted to the godless, but to those only who worship you without looking for reward, because you yourself are their joy. This is the happy life, and this alone: to rejoice in you, about you and because of you. This is the life of happiness, and it is not to be found anywhere else. Whoever thinks there can be some other is chasing a joy that is not the true one” (Confessions 10.22).

Life to come. Those who persist in sin without repentance will be eternally separated from God’s favorable presence in hell (Q. 26, 35). “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). The tragedy of hell is that man stubbornly forfeits the eternal happiness in God for which he was created. God’s will is that all would come to their senses, turn from sin, and be saved: “The Lord … is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).