When this world totally fails, the ground for joy remains.

There would be no obstacles to overcome. We won't fight for joy in heaven. But we are not there yet.

What is the chief aim of man? Man's chief aim is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. And? Like ham and eggs? Sometimes you glorify God and sometimes you enjoy Him? Sometimes He gets glory, sometimes you get joy?

Would you want to go to heaven if God were not there, only His gifts?

The great old catechism asks, "What is the chief end of man?" and answers, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." Enjoying God is the way to glorify God, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It's a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God. If we don't want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel.

O! one hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and delights of this lower world.

It is the most fundamental reason why each of us exists. Scripture calls it "abiding in Christ" (John 15:4; cf. 1 John 4:16). God's desire is for us to participate in his own eternal love and life and therefore in his own eternal joy and peace by dwelling in the Son.

If I have the smile of God, all other frowns are inconsequential.

it will be quite clear what that kingdom is and what it means. It is a kingdom stronger than war and danger, a kingdom of power and authority, signifying eternal terror and judgment to some, and eternal joy and righteousness to others, not a kingdom of the heart, but one as wide as the earth, not transitory but eternal, a kingdom that makes a way for itself and summons men to itself to prepare its way, a kingdom for which it is worth while risking our lives.