The Two Happiest Days
- Pastor Jay Christianson
- May 2
- 5 min read
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Having lived in Florida for four years now, I’ve come to know some real hard-core boating enthusiasts. They range from passionate anglers to pleasure-loving cruisers. It’s always a treat to spend time on the water as we putt through the canals of Marco Island to the Gulf of America, where the captain of the craft opens up the engines, and we pound our way through the waves.
Exhilarating is an understatement.
What’s not so exhilarating is when, out of curiosity, I ask what the various vessels cost. Most of my friends have speedboats or pontoons, modest by Marco Island standards. I’m taken aback when I hear that some of those boats cost more than what I paid for my first home in 1989. And those are the less expensive boats. You should see some of the doozies docked around the island—estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars and beyond.
After learning the price of those smaller boats, the owner then tells me to add the cost of insurance, maintenance, dock space or marina storage (if desired), fuel, licensing, and yada-yada. That’s when the real cost of owning and operating a watercraft hits me. Yup, “he who buys a boat, buys a master,” as the saying goes.
Nope. Can’t do it.
Because of all that’s involved in boat ownership, there’s a common joke among enthusiasts. “What are a boat owner’s two happiest days? The day they buy a boat, and the day they sell it.” (bah-dump tsss. Yes, that was a literary rimshot for a corny joke.)
They’re absolutely right. Once the initial cost is paid and the captain steps onto his cruiser for the initial run, excitement runs high. Then, the other responsibilities kick in, and the shine begins to fade.
Recently, I asked a friend about how his boat is running. He told me that he sold it because it was cheaper and much less effort to charter fishing trips than to take his fishing boat out for a day. Point well taken.
As I was reflecting on this part of salt life here in Florida, it hit me that a Christian’s life is very much like owning a boat.
“What are the two happiest days in a Christian’s life? The day they get saved, and the day they go to meet the Lord.” Everything in between is the cost and effort of operation and maintenance.
I remember the day I was saved well. It was a Saturday morning in November 1976. I had gone to church for years, and I was open to the Lord, but the real salvation transformation hadn’t happened. Well, it did that morning. I had just returned from a morning Bible study. Yes, lost people sometimes go to Bible studies. I lay on my bed and said something to the Lord like, “Okay, let’s make this official. I want You to take control of my life, Jesus.”
He did. And I was happy Jesus did.
That was my first happiest day because I had finally experienced the truth of Romans 4:7, “Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered.” I was convinced about the Lord’s plan of salvation, “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). What amazed me the most was how the Bible suddenly came alive to me after my spiritual transformation.
I would read a Psalm or a chapter of Proverbs or a selection from the Gospels every morning as I ate breakfast cereal before running for the school bus. As I read, some of what I had read would stick with me and convict my misbehavior or guide me toward the right choices throughout the day. This daily routine continued through High School. Yes, some of my friends remember what a Bible thumper I had become and the bulky Revised Standard Version Bible I carried with me.
Was it smooth sailing all the time? Absolutely not. I may have gotten saved, but I hadn’t brought my mind, will, and emotions under control. Frankly, that’s been my struggle ever since. Every day, I launch out onto the waters of the world with the Lord as my captain. Sadly, I repeatedly try to grab the wheel from His powerful and unrelenting hands. It’s a daily effort to maintain a biblical heading.
When I’m docked and resting, I realize how much maintenance the Holy Spirit still must perform on my character, thoughts, words, and actions. I may have surrendered myself as the master of my life, but I realize I have an even greater Master now who lovingly but firmly works on me to keep me seaworthy and afloat on the wild waves of an unpredictable world.
Honestly, there are times when I look forward to the second happiest day of my life—when I will make it to safe harbor and live in the Lord’s presence forever. All the personal maintenance will be done. All efforts will be laid aside. I’ll be done with this “old boat,” and I’ll be sittin’ on the dock with Jesus.
Yup, as I see it, the two happiest days of a Christian’s life are when we come to the Lord and when He comes for us, either in death or His return.
Now, I’m not saying everything between those two days is nothing but struggle, hardship, and misery, but you and I know (if you’re a Christian) that living a godly life in an ungodly world ain’t smooth sailing. We have to keep an even keel and “fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience” if we’re to avoid making a shipwreck of our faith (1 Timothy 1:18-19).
In the meantime, between the two happiest days, let’s accept the cost of living for Jesus because of the price He paid for us. We’re not alone at sea, either. The Holy Spirit is our insurance of eternal life, our maintenance mechanic, our safe space, the fuel for life, and our license to operate freely on the sea of God’s grace.
Shining the Light of God’s Truth on the Road Ahead
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts