The News and the Good News

Headlines scream at us on a daily, and sometimes, minute to minute basis of one disaster or another, war eruption or mans inhumanity to man. Everything under the sun is covered. We have pages and pages of bad news in our newspapers, the 24/7 news channels shout BREAKING NEWS of another terrorist bomb going off somewhere in the world and, for the voyeurs, we have the latest antics of so-called "hollywood stars" to give us something to gossip about, or another tornado or drought being in places there's never been before.

Because of all the technology we have now, we are so drenched by news the world over in real time that it's amazing(in fulfillment of Daniel 12:4). Most of the time we know more about what is going on in China or the Middle East then we do our own neighborhoods. If it's not on the television or in the newspaper, the internet is more than happy to oblige and that with running commentary or opinions stated as fact. It can boggle the mind. It gives us so much more to be concerned, worried or stewed about then we'd ever dreamt of even twenty/fifty years ago.

It's beginning to seem like a trick of the devil to me. A sort of "give'em what they want to hear and overwhelm them with stress and anxiety" ploy. However, the devil isn't a creator, he's only an imitator. He tried this once before at the tower of Babel. People wanted to be in control so they began to build a tower to the skies so they "would be remembered". They have been remembered alright.....as the epitome of babbling and being scattered to the four corners of the earth. But now, Babel(Babylon)is being rebuilt. The word is out and nations are gathering in the Middle East once again from the four corners of the earth. It's on the news.

But there is better news then that or anything else. It's the Good News. Newspapers don't print good news as a rule. Neither do any other news outlets. It doesn't catch the viewer volumne they are needing to keep their ratings high and the adverstising dollars rolling in. Be that as it may, this Good News is still going out anyway. It's the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It starts out bad, I have to admit. The first thing you hear is that you(everyone)is a sinner. No one is good, no not one. Everyone has fallen short of the righteousness of God and all are in need of a Savior. All are required to repent from their wicked ways and turn to the only One who can save them. And, while this news is old...over 2000 years old, it's still just as relevant today as it was the day Jesus Christ was nailed to the Cross at Calvary, where He laid down His life that "whosoever" shall believe in Him shall be saved. That news should be in the headlines every single day so that people will know that there is hope for the lost and undone; hope for the weary and brokenhearted; hope for anyone who will call upon the Name of the Lord.

This news is preached from pulpits in churches the world over but there are so many who have come to distrust the churches with their watered down, feel-good, enhance your self-esteem with a purpose driven lifestyle, that they run from rather than flock to the churches to hear the Message of hope and true purpose in life: to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, being reconciled to God through Him unto life everlasting. That's really good news! There is none better! No one can compete for that news and no money or advertising quotas can top it. It's the absolute truth and Truth is free. Salvation is a free gift from God. There is nothing we can do to earn it or keep doing to keep it. All we have to do is just say "yes" to the Lords offer of salvation by faith and accept His atoning sacrifice for our sins once and for all. That's it. It's not complicated like some make it out to be.

The rest of the Good News is that once we are saved(born again spiritually), the Holy Spirit of God will take up His dwelling in our spirits and lead us in the paths of righteousness for His Names sake. Our part is to humbly follow Him every step of the way, denying our Self, not promoting our self-esteem. Should we get out of line(and we will as we are "still but flesh"), He will draw us back to Him one way or another because there is nothing that can take us from the Fathers hand...absolutely nothing. Now, that is Good News!

Do not be troubled by the news you hear but listen instead to the "small, still voice" that tells you "this is the way, walk ye in it". The world can't hear that voice but, once saved, you can and the things of the world will trouble you no longer for you will be looking for "a new heavens and a new earth" to call home. It is soon to be upon us, the waxing away of the old and the coming of the new. And that, my friends, is terrific news! And it is this:

"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, theword of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt besaved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouthconfession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on himshall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for thesame Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon thename of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:8-13)"