Be true to yourself.

Be your authentic self.

We often hear those pieces of mantra advice nowadays especially when the question is how to be happy. And there is some kernel of truth in it.

The path to happiness is indeed knowing who we really are deep inside. And the Bible says we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23). There is no one that does good (Rom. 3:12), as far as God is concerned. It is only God who can see the true nature of our hearts and He says that it is "more deceitful than all else. And is desperately sick." (Jer. 17:9).

 

Mark 7:20-23 say, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness." And there you go. There we go. That is our true, authentic self. I don't know how anyone can be happy after that.

 

But good thing that God does not leave us in our pitiful, wicked state. "If we admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is true to His own nature and promises, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) We will be on the road to happiness. How so? God will create a clean heart within us (Ps. 51:10). A clean heart will be pure. Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart." The word, "blessed" there means "oh how happy!" And that is the only way to be truly happy.